OceanEye initiative to boost Europe’s role in global ocean monitoring

The European Commission has formally adopted its OceanEye initiative, which aims to strengthen the EU’s role in ocean observation, as part of its wider European Ocean Pact strategy.

OceanEye, adopted this month shortly before the first anniversary of the Ocean Pact, sets out targets for the EU to contribute 35% of the global ocean observing system by 2035 and secure 35% of the market for ocean observation technologies.

According to the Commission, OceanEye aims for Europe to be the world’s leading provider of ocean intelligence, with applications ranging from ocean protection and restoration, climate forecasting, and aquaculture and fisheries, to offshore energy, shipping, maritime security and defence.

The Commission said ocean observation remains critical because, despite covering around 70% of the Earth’s surface, only 5% of the ocean has been explored. Launching the initiative, Fisheries and Oceans Commissioner Costas Kadis described OceanEye as "our collective investment in knowledge to unlock the mysteries of our ocean.”

He added that understanding the ocean was both a scientific need and an economic opportunity, saying that “each euro invested in ocean observing systems generates a return of €5-6 in economic and societal benefits.”

Officials said OceanEye will be built around four main areas: improving governance and coordination across Europe, strengthening international partnerships, supporting the European Digital Twin Ocean and related technologies, and increasing public engagement and skills development.

“With OceanEye, Europe will lead the race to understand our ocean, to protect it, and to sustainably harness its potential," said President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who earlier announced the project in March during the EU's Ocean Days event.

"This is about using science and good governance to understand our ocean and secure our future. We call on all Member States and global partners to join us in to support the Global Ocean Observing System and make OceanEye a reality,” she added.

Announcing the OceanEye initiative, the European Commission said Europe’s existing ocean observation activities remain fragmented, with OceanEye intended to improve coordination between Member States, research bodies and industry. Further details are expected to be included in the proposal for an Ocean Act later this year.

The initiative also foresees a European Digital Ocean System, bringing together existing services including Copernicus Marine Service, EMODnet, WISE Marine and WISE Freshwater. The system will include the European Digital Twin Ocean, which is due to become fully operational by 2030 and support real-time monitoring and predictive modelling for policy and industry.

The EU also plans to launch an International Alliance to strengthen the Global Ocean Observing System, including by addressing gaps in under-monitored regions such as the Southern Hemisphere, the Arctic, the deep sea and coastal areas.

Under the current Horizon Europe programme, the Commission will invest €92 million to support OceanEye. This includes €50 million to strengthen the EU’s contribution to the Global Ocean Observing System, €12 million for resilient global ocean data systems, and €30 million through a European Innovation Council thematic challenge focused on ocean observation technologies.

“Global leadership in ocean observation infrastructure, data and information services is the Moonshot ambition we want to set for the EU. We will start by developing the next generation of European ocean observing technologies,” said Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, adding that Horizon Europe would support in-situ observation capacity, data systems and deep-tech startups, while helping to build a European digital ocean system.

OceanEye is one of the deliverables of the European Ocean Pact, which was adopted on 5 June 2025 during the Third UN Ocean Conference in Nice. The Pact was designed as a single framework for EU ocean-related policies, including marine protection, the blue economy and support for coastal communities.

Marking one year since the Pact’s adoption, the Commission said progress had been made in key areas of ocean governance, diplomacy, research and the sustainable blue economy, and highlighted the entry into force in January of the High Seas Treaty, formally known as the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), as a major step in international ocean governance.

The EC also said key parts of the Pact’s governance structure are now in place, including a stakeholder-led Ocean Board and a prototype Ocean Pact dashboard. The dashboard is expected to be fully operational by the end of this year, providing public monitoring of EU commitments across the Pact’s six strategic priorities.

On the economic side, the Commission said the Pact’s first year had included publication of the evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy Regulation, as well as the adoption of the EU Ports Strategy and the Industrial Maritime Strategy during EU Ocean Days. It also said dedicated strategies for the EU’s islands and coastal communities would be adopted on 10 June.

“The Ocean Pact has positioned the EU as the global leader in ocean protection and in sustainable economic growth," said Costas Kadis, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans.

"This will allow us to better support the EU countries that are most affected by changes in the ocean, build long-lasting partnerships across the globe, and promote sustainable economic growth in our coastal communities. This will be underpinned by our upcoming islands and coastal communities strategies.”

The Commission said the European Ocean Pact brings together EU ocean policies under a single framework, with the aim of protecting marine ecosystems, supporting a sustainable blue economy and improving the resilience of coastal and island communities. According to the Commission, ocean and blue economy-related sectors account for 5 million jobs in the EU and €250 billion in gross added value.