The European Anglers Alliance (EAA) has officially been accepted as a new Observer Organisation to the OSPAR Commission, marking an important milestone in strengthening the representation of recreational fisheries within regional marine governance.
About OSPAR
The OSPAR Commission is the mechanism through which 15 governments and the European Union cooperate to protect and conserve the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic.
Established under the 1992 OSPAR Convention, which unified and updated the 1972 Oslo Convention on marine dumping and the 1974 Paris Convention on land-based sources of marine pollution, OSPAR has evolved into one of the world’s leading regional seas conventions.
Today, OSPAR develops coordinated policies and measures to safeguard marine biodiversity, tackle pollution, protect vulnerable habitats and species, promote sustainable use of marine resources, and improve the overall health of the North-East Atlantic. Its work contributes to achieving Good Environmental Status of marine waters and supports the implementation of international commitments relating to marine conservation.
About EAA’s role within OSPAR
During the 2026 OSPAR Commission meeting, four new Observer Organisations were admitted:
- European Anglers Alliance (EAA)
- Nordic EPS Alliance (NEPSA)
- Atlantic International Research Centre (AIR Centre)
- Bellona Environmental Foundation
According to OSPAR, the participation of these organisations will provide additional expertise and strengthen stakeholder engagement in support of the Commission’s work.
For the EAA, observer status represents an important opportunity to contribute the perspective of Europe’s recreational angling community to discussions on marine conservation and the sustainable management of marine ecosystems.
By participating as an Observer Organisation, the EAA looks forward to contributing practical expertise and constructive stakeholder input to OSPAR’s work, helping to ensure that healthy marine ecosystems and sustainable recreational fisheries continue to go hand in hand.
More information is available on the OSPAR website: https://www.ospar.org/news/osparcommission2026
