Seas At Risk is a Brussels-based association of over 35 environmental organisations from across Europe, working together to ensure that life in the seas and oceans is abundant, diverse, climate resilient, and not threatened by human activities. Established in 1989, the organisation has spent more than 30 years championing the cause of healthy seas and oceans. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, it has strong connections with the European institutions and with the UN and regional bodies responsible for seas and oceans, as well as with like-minded organisations in Europe and around the world.

Seas At Risk’s mission is to promote ambitious policies for marine protection and restoration at European and international level. Its work is guided by core principles of sustainability, precautionary action, integration, and democratisation. The organisation’s programmatic activities are structured around four main areas: Rewilding the Ocean (covering marine protected areas and ocean governance); Climate and Ocean (decarbonising shipping and renewable energy at sea); Clean Ocean (addressing ocean plastic pollution and ocean noise pollution); and Ocean Use (low-impact fisheries, responsible aquaculture, and saving the deep sea from mining).

Seas At Risk operates as a membership association governed by a Management Committee. Its membership comprises over 35 environmental organisations representing the majority of European countries, through which it speaks for millions of citizens concerned about ocean health. The organisation engages in governance processes at international level — including the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the UN — at EU level through the European institutions, and at regional level through bodies such as OSPAR and regional fisheries Advisory Councils. Individual member organisations play an important role in ensuring the essential link to national settings by briefing government delegations attending international meetings.

Seas At Risk produces publications, policy positions, briefings, and press releases to inform policymakers and stakeholders on marine issues. It hosts workshops and events for members, NGOs, and policymakers throughout the year. A flagship initiative is the Blue Manifesto — a rescue plan for Europe to make the ocean healthy by 2030, calling for the strict protection of at least 30% of EU seas, a shift to low-impact fishing, and elimination of key ocean pollutants. The organisation also provides a Policy Deep Dive resource and Policy Calendar for its audiences, and issues regular newsletters tracking EU and international ocean policy developments.