New WWF report: 10 key principles to revive EU’s seas and coasts
Posted on March, 26 2025
A new WWF report identifies 10 key principles for effective marine and coastal restoration in the EU, providing a first-of-its-kind framework for restoring Europe’s seas and coastal regions under the Nature Restoration Law. Featuring diverse case studies across the continent, the report lays out the elements that make marine restoration effective, sustainable and scientifically sound.
Europe’s marine and coastal ecosystems face unprecedented threats from habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change. With over 40% of the EU population living in coastal regions, urgent restoration efforts are essential to protect coastal communities, safeguard biodiversity and mitigate climate change impacts. “The Nature Restoration Law gives us a chance to reverse decades of degradation in our seas. At the same time, marine and coastal restoration is a relatively new area, with a limited number of completed projects. The report aims to bridge this gap and is the first publication to offer clear, science-based strategies that ensure effective ecological recovery rather than superficial measures,” says Jacob Armstrong, Ocean Manager at the WWF European Policy Office.
The research, based on peer-reviewed literature and analysis of marine restoration projects in the EU, concludes with a step-by-step checklist, especially helpful to policy-makers and project managers preparing National Restoration Plans under the newly adopted Nature Restoration Law.
With the deadline for submitting National Restoration Plans to the European Commission set for 1 September 2026, WWF urges Member States to act swiftly, ensuring that plans incorporate the 10 principles identified in the report, align with existing EU policies, and involve all relevant stakeholders in the decision-making process.
"With the Oceans Pact expected at the end of May, the EU has a unique opportunity to deliver on its promise of restoring our oceans. The approaches demonstrated in this report - such as building knowledge, reducing human pressure on marine life and ensuring dialogue - can help decision-makers catch the wave of healthy oceans and make meaningful restoration a reality,” added Armstrong.
Read more in our report: 10 Key Principles for Effective Marine and Coastal Restoration: Setting the Scene for Success in the EU
The report provides a first-of-its-kind framework for restoring Europe’s seas and coastal regions under the Nature Restoration Law.
© WWF
The report provides a first-of-its-kind framework for restoring Europe’s seas and coastal regions under the Nature Restoration Law.
© WWF