Protecting the Ocean: Legal Tools and Gaps in the Fight Against Marine Pollution

Why the Law Matters in Ocean Protection

Plastic pollution, abandoned fish farms, ghost gear, oil spills — marine threats are visible and urgent, yet legal action often lags behind. While cleanup and conservation efforts are vital, long-term protection of the ocean depends on something equally powerful: the law.

On May 8 at 17:00 CEST, Healthy Seas invites you to a free online webinar that dives deep into the legal tools, barriers, and innovations shaping the future of ocean protection.

Whether you’re a conservationist, lawyer, policy-maker, student, or simply passionate about the sea, this event is designed to offer fresh insights on how laws can work for the ocean — and what’s holding us back.

👉 Register here

What You’ll Learn

This one-hour webinar will guide participants through three layers of ocean legal challenges — from the local to the global:

1. The Case of Ghost Farms

Veronika Mikos, Director of Healthy Seas, will share lessons from the field, highlighting legal grey zones around abandoned fish farms and the persistent issue of ghost gear. Who is responsible for the waste left behind? Why do cleanup efforts often face legal obstacles?

2. Legal Strategies Against Pollution

Rogier Hörchner, environmental lawyer, will bring the courtroom to the conversation with case studies involving plastic nurdle spills and other pollution cases. He’ll break down the legal tools currently available — and the ones we urgently need.

3. Rethinking Ocean Law: Rights of Nature and Beyond

A legal expert from Ocean Vision Legal will expand the horizon, exploring how rights of nature, international treaties, and visionary frameworks can offer stronger, more holistic protection for the ocean.

Who Should Attend?

This event is for anyone curious about the intersection of law and marine conservation — including:

• Environmental NGOs and activists

• Legal professionals and students

• Policymakers and government agencies

• Marine biologists and oceanographers

• Journalists, educators, and the general public

Whether you’re on the shore, in the field, or at the desk, this is your chance to understand how law can be a tool for change — or a barrier to overcome.

Details & Registration

• Date: Wednesday, May 8

• Time: 17:00 CEST

• Duration: 1 hour

• Location: Online

• Language: English

• Register here: 👉 LINK

Let’s Talk About Ocean Law

The ocean sometimes doesn’t have a voice in the courtroom — but we can give it one.
Join us and be part of the conversation.