This Policy Brief summarises the key policy-relevant results and tools developed by the BRIDGE Black Sea (BRIDGE-BS) project, and makes recommendations for future research and policy needs for the future for the development of a sustainable blue economy within ecosystem boundaries. The tools developed aim to predict the long-term impact and emerging risks from multiple stressors to identify a safe operating space within which a sustainable blue economy can flourish. This document was developed and published by the European Marine Board Secretariat, in collaboration with researchers from the BRIDGE-BS project.
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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 engaged in a wide range of marine science-policy activities throughout 2025. These included the publication of the Future Science Briefs on 'Deep Sea Research and Management Needs' and on 'Monitoring, Verification and Reporting of mCDR', organisation of the 9th EMB Forum, 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 2025 Annual Report.
This Policy Brief presents the main policy-relevant outcomes from the RHE-MEDiation project and provides recommendations to help modernise wastewater treatment and enable uptake of the approach tested during the project. It also highlights the untapped potential of microalgae-based photobioreactors as an innovative and nature-based solution to support the implementation of the revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD), particularly for rural and remote municipalities across Europe. This document was developed by the European Marine Board Secretariat, in collaboration with partners from RHE-MEDiation project.
The Joint SURIMI - Advisory Councils (ACs) workshop was an additional workshop held after the first SURIMI stakeholder co-design workshop, aimed to increase the awareness and involvement of European fishers for whom English was a barrier to participate in the first workshop. This report provides a summary of the workshop and main findings.
Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR) methods are being proposed and piloted in Europe. Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) is a structured process to collect, disclose and independently verify data on mCDR activities. The EMB Future Science Brief No. 13 ‘Monitoring, Reporting and Verification for marine Carbon Dioxide Removal' aims to identify knowledge gaps, challenges and uncertainties in developing transparent and standardised MRV systems for mCDR methods and provides recommendations on how to overcome them. It addresses the need for science-based guidance for developing robust, transparent and scientifically underpinned MRV frameworks for mCDR going forward.
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.