Understanding public demands and preferences are crucial for policy success. This Policy Brief summarises the findings of a large-scale survey led by the University of Malta and performed as part of the EcoScope project to understand citizens’ views and preferences for Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management (EBFM). The Brief was published by the European Marine Board and created as part of the EcoScope project.
EMB publications
Impact report for Future Science Brief 10, which highlights the most recent science on Ocean oxygen, including causes, impacts and mitigation strategies of Ocean oxygen loss, and whether “every second breath we take comes from the Ocean”.
Impact report for Future Science Brief 9, which provides an overview of the technology and European deployment status in the offshore renewable energy sector, and discusses the environmental and socioeconomic considerations, and key knowledge, research, and capacity gaps that must be addressed to ensure sustainable delivery of the EU Green Deal.
Impact report for Policy Brief 11, which describes examples and benefits of Blue Carbon ecosystems, and discusses uncertainties and challenges for using Blue Carbon ecosystem as a climate change solution. It also highlights the wider role of the Ocean in mitigating climate change through the carbon cycle, and closes with key research and management recommendations.
Impact report for Position Paper 27 and Policy Brief 12, which present key policy, scientific and community recommendations on how to build coastal resilience and enhance capacity to cope with impacts from climate change and other coastal pressures.
The 9th EMB Forum took place in Brussels and online on 2 April 2025, and was on the topic of "Addressing coastal and water resilience on the land-sea interface". Over 100 participants from Europe and further afield engaged both online and in person, representing academia, early career researchers, policymakers, industry, and NGOs. This document is a summary of the discussions, and full recordings of the sessions are available on the EMB YouTube Channel.
EMB engaged in a wide range of marine science-policy activities throughout 2024. These included the publication of the sixth edition of its flagship Navigating the Future foresight series, co-organisation of the CommOCEAN conference and engagement in a number of externally funded projects. EMB maintained its support for the UN Ocean Decade, including the EMBracing the Ocean artist-in-residence programme, and for the EU Mission Ocean. It also continued to support early career researchers via the EMB Ambassador Programme and ECOP Network. To learn more about EMB’s activities and achievements, read EMB's 2024 Annual Report.
Despite its immense ecological importance, the deep sea remains underrepresented in policy considerations and global conservation efforts. While the EU’s International Ocean Governance Agenda and Biodiversity Strategy emphasise marine biodiversity protection, there is an urgent need to translate these agendas into action, particularly concerning the deep sea. The EMB Future Science Brief No. 12 'Deep Sea Research and Management Needs' explores the complexity of the deep sea and its role in Ocean health today, highlights the critical ecosystem services and functions it provides, and underscores the risks to Ocean health in the face of climate change, direct human impacts, and future industries in the deep sea. This document provides policy, management, research and global capacity building recommendations to ensure a healthy Ocean and deep sea.
Our Ocean plays a key role in enabling life on Earth, and is increasingly also playing a key role in helping us to address the global crises we are facing. It is critical for us to better understand both of these roles, and the impact that playing them has on the Ocean in turn. EMB Policy Brief No. 13 'Navigating the Future VI: The Ocean's role in addressing global crises’ presents the main research and policy recommendations to help us to take that understanding forward.
Coastal systems face increasing and interacting pressures due to climate change and various human activities. Building resilience of coastal ecosystems and human communities is essential for them to persist, adapt or transform whilst maintaining their essential functions, and to safeguard life, ecosystems and economies. EMB Policy Brief No. 12 ‘Requirements for Coastal Resilience in Europe’ presents key policy, scientific and community recommendations for building coastal resilience and enhancing the capacity to cope with impacts from coastal pressures.