On 11 November 2025, Pierre Bahurel, Director-General of Mercator Ocean International, addressed the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries (PECH), presenting the latest findings from the 9th Copernicus Ocean State Report. The session underscored the vital link between Mercator Ocean’s trusted stewardship of the Copernicus Marine Service and the future of European and global operational oceanography.
With members from across the Members of the European Parliament, the fisheries committee plays a key role in reforming and updating fisheries policy, balancing the sector’s environmental sustainability and economic viability. It also addresses challenges such as climate change, invasive species, rising costs, and competition from imports, while supporting the livelihoods of fishers and the future of coastal communities.
A Call for EU Member States to Shape the Future
During his presentation, Pierre Bahurel underscored the conclusion of the 9th Copernicus Ocean State Report: that the triple planetary crisis (climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution) is having profound impacts on the Ocean. He drew attention to the increasing frequency and intensity of marine heatwaves, the spread of invasive species such as the blue crab and bearded fireworm, and the resulting economic and ecological challenges for coastal communities.
Pierre also highlighted Mercator Ocean’s priorities for the Copernicus Marine Service, including expanding its scope from physical to biological monitoring and integrating digital twinning technologies to enable scenario planning and risk mapping for fisheries.
As Mercator Ocean evolves to become the world’s first Intergovernmental Organization devoted to digital Ocean systems and services, Pierre invited all EU Member States to join and contribute to strengthening Europe’s leadership in Ocean prediction.
The invitation to all countries reflects Mercator Ocean’s commitment to transparency, inclusiveness, and shared ownership of Europe’s digital Ocean infrastructure. By joining the new Intergovernmental Organization, Member States will have a direct role in shaping the future of Ocean science, policy, and innovation, as well as ensuring the Copernicus Marine Service continues to meet the evolving needs of society and the environment.
A Trusted Implementer for Europe’s Ocean
Since 2014, Mercator Ocean has been entrusted by the European Commission as the delegated entity to implement the Copernicus Marine Service, a cornerstone of the EU’s environmental monitoring and Ocean forecasting capabilities. This trust is built on years of scientific excellence, operational reliability, and a proven track record in delivering open, free, and authoritative marine data to policymakers, researchers, industry and the public.
The Copernicus Marine Service provides critical information on Ocean physics, biogeochemistry, and biology. It enables Europe to respond to the accelerating challenges of ocean warming, acidification, sea level rise, and biodiversity loss. The annual Ocean State Report is now a reference for EU and international policy, supporting sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, and the blue economy.
Strengthening Europe’s Ocean Capabilities
Looking ahead, Mercator Ocean is focused on:
- Extending Copernicus Marine’s operational capacity to monitor marine ecosystems,
- Integrating Digital Twin Ocean technologies for advanced scenario planning,
- and ensuring that the service remains at the forefront of scientific and technological progress.
These efforts will empower Europe to address the triple planetary crisis and safeguard the Ocean for future generations.