Growing public support for marine protection is evident across Europe, with 73% of people endorsing a ban on bottom trawling. This fishing practice, which involves dragging heavy nets along the seabed, not only damages marine habitats but also significantly contributes to CO2 emissions. Campaigners are urging leading European figures to take decisive action to protect the oceans.
French President Emmanuel Macron and EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis are facing increasing pressure to address destructive fishing practices in Europe’s protected marine areas. The newly launched campaign, Protect Our Catch, has sent open letters to both leaders. Supported by fishermen, citizen activists, and leading ocean advocates such as BLOOM, Blue Marine Foundation, Empesca’t, Environmental Justice Foundation, Oceana, Only One, Seas At Risk, and Tara Ocean Foundation, the campaign calls for stricter marine protections.
Why is the French President Targeted?
In 2022, President Macron pledged to set ambitious goals for biodiversity and ocean conservation. However, campaigners argue that France has yet to make meaningful progress on banning destructive fishing practices within its protected areas. This inaction undermines France’s claim to be a steward of the ocean.
“Today, France is responding to the climate, social, and environmental emergency with inaction and deception,” says Claire Nouvian, founder and director of non-profit BLOOM.
The open letter underscores France’s role as the world’s second-largest maritime power and its responsibility to champion ocean protection at the upcoming United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice. It urges Macron to enforce strict protections in at least 10% of French waters and ban bottom trawling in marine protected areas, asserting that these actions are critical for preserving ecosystems and small-scale fishermen.
EU Leadership Urged to Enforce Regulations
Simultaneously, the campaign calls on EU leadership, including Commissioner Kadis, to enforce existing regulations, particularly the Habitats Directive, to prevent destructive fishing practices. Steve Trent, CEO and founder of the Environmental Justice Foundation, emphasizes that most European marine protected areas are merely “paper parks” that fail to stop habitat destruction.
The open letter to Kadis highlights the EU’s potential to lead by example. Over the last year, the EU has taken significant steps to address ocean conservation issues, such as supporting a ban on deep-sea mining and ratifying the High Seas Treaty. The campaign advocates for the EU to implement the Marine Action Plan, phasing out bottom trawling with a just transition to low-impact fishing methods.
Public Opinion and Its Impact
Public opinion is a powerful force driving change. Recent polls reveal that 90% of Europeans believe protected areas are essential for preserving marine biodiversity, and 73% support a ban on bottom trawling in marine protected areas. This widespread support underscores the urgency of the issue and the need for action from policymakers.
Protecting Marine Ecosystems and Supporting Fishermen
The European Environment Agency reports that nearly 80% of the EU’s coastal seabed has been disturbed due to bottom trawling, leading to the loss of natural seabed habitats in a quarter of the EU’s coastal areas. Both traditional and industrial fishing methods threaten the future of small-scale fishermen. Isaac Moya, a fisherman in Catalunya and co-founder of Empesca’t, emphasizes the importance of protecting artisanal fishing practices.
“As small-scale fishers, we rely on traditional, low-impact methods that respect the ocean and our culture. However, industrial and bottom trawling in marine protected areas threaten our future. To ensure the continuity of our profession, it is essential to protect and promote artisanal fishing,” Moya adds.
Federico Gelmi, a low-impact fisher from Pantelleria, Italy, agrees that bottom trawling is incompatible with sustainable fishing.
“The science is clear, and the fishing tells the same story. We need to protect our ocean if we are to continue fishing,” Gelmi says.
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Conclusion
The growing support for marine protection in Europe reflects a broader recognition of the need to address the urgent threats facing our oceans. By taking action to ban bottom trawling and enforce existing regulations, leaders like President Macron and Commissioner Kadis can help safeguard marine ecosystems and support sustainable fishing practices. The time to act is now.
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