Fishing organisations from 14 EU countries, representing more than 20,000 fishermen and 7,000 vessels, celebrated the official creation of the European Bottom Fishing Alliance (EBFA) on Thursday 24 March.
Representatives of the alliance presented the reality of these activities across Europe at an event in the European Parliament and defended the use of active bottom gears as a sustainable activity in the face of attacks from NGOs.
The European Commission envisages a gradual elimination of bottom gears in the future action plan for the conservation of fisheries resources and the protection of marine ecosystems. The sector accounts for 25% of total EU landings and generates almost 40% of the sector’s total income.
Iván López van der Veen, President of the EBFA, said: “We are ready to fight all the myths surrounding our activities with science and data. We have mapped the seas to identify vulnerable areas, we have closed fishing areas when and where necessary. Our ships are more selective”.
Some NGOs, including Oceana, Seas At Risk and Our Fish, believe that bottom trawling is the most damaging activity to the seabed and advocate its elimination (see EUROPE 12857/23). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)