Commission seeks to boost oceanic research

The EU executive wants to promote more coordinated research on sea and ocean resources in a bid to “reconcile” the competitiveness of Europe’s maritime industries and the protection of marine ecosystems.

The new strategy, presented on 3 September, aims to overcome fragmentation of the European marine and maritime research landscape by: 

• Building capacity to develop new infrastructures such as pan-European ocean observatories or specialised research vessels. 
• Enhancing integration of research on maritime activities (such as shipping, oil platforms, fishing, etc.) and marine ecosystems through the promotion of inter-disciplinary study of cross-cutting issues. This includes evaluating the impact of human activity on coastal and marine ecosystems. Such projects could then receive support from a combination of EU funding schemes.
• Promoting synergies between national, regional and Community-level research, without neglecting as international cooperation as oceans are a global issue. 

A key aim of the strategy is to “reconcile” economic growth in sea-based activities and environmental preservation, while at the same time developing innovative solutions to better manage and exploit sea and ocean resources. 

“It is essential to allow us to realise the full potential of sea-based activities in an environmentally sustainable manner,” stressed Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg. 

Indeed, maritime activities such as shipbuilding, tourism, coastal development, fisheries and aquaculture account for up to 5% of the EU economy, while seas account for roughly 90% of the bloc’s external trade and 40% of its internal trade. But these activities can be a threat to the marine environment. 

The strategy, which represents a follow-up to the presentation of an ‘integrated EU maritime policy’ by the Commission in October 2007 (EURACTIV 11/10/07), also highlights the need for increased research to better understand the complexity of ocean systems and the role of oceans in climate change. 

EU Science and Research Commissioner Janez Poto?nik welcomed the strategy, describing it as “one of the pioneering actions for the implementation of the European Research Area, which promotes scientific excellence and the development of cutting-edge innovation in Europe through better integration of existing research efforts and development of new capacities”. 

The strategy must now be approved by national governments and MEPs. The Commission is expected to hand in its first report on its implementation in 2012. 

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