We are pleased to let you know that the EU Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella, announced today the results of the Commission's public consultation on international ocean governance at the SeaWeb Seafood Summit in Malta.

The public consultation took place from June to October 2015, alongside a 'listening tour' with stops in Portugal, Ireland, Malta, the United States, Norway, Chile, Spain and France, among others. The purpose of this consultation was to gather input from all stakeholders, private and public, as well as international governmental and non-governmental organisations on how the EU could contribute to achieving better international governance of oceans and seas.

Findings include the need for better implementation and coordination as well as the need to fill existing legal gaps and improve ocean knowledge. Respondents confirmed that the EU has an important role to play in this regard.

The EU is already spearheading the global fight against illegal fishing, pushing for a new international legal agreement under the UN to preserve marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, and promoting research cooperation through the 2013 'Galway declaration', which set up an Atlantic Ocean research alliance with the US and Canada. The Commission plans to follow up the consultation with a political initiative on ocean governance in the coming months.

You can access the summary document with the results of the international consultation here:

Summary of the results of the public consultation on international Ocean Governance