The NGOs behind this initiative - Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), Blue Marine Foundation, ClientEarth, Défense des Milieux Aquatiques (DMA) and Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V. - are calling for the Commission to launch infringement proceedings and refer the issue to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
European environmental laws, including the Habitats Directive, are meant to protect marine life. In practice, however, the situation is quite different, according to the NGOs. “Across Europe, governments are still allowing destructive fishing in marine protected areas (MPAs), in particular bottom trawling, which indiscriminately scrapes the seabeds and devastates fragile marine habitats” they point out.
The figures are alarming: bottom trawling is currently practised in 77% of marine Natura 2000 sites in France, 85% in Germany and 44% in Italy - even though these areas are supposed to be safe havens for biodiversity.
In their complaint, the NGOs denounce widespread breaches of European law, with Member States failing to prevent harmful activities in marine protected areas (MPAs). Several EU countries are already facing national legal proceedings due to the continued use of bottom trawling.
“We urge the European Commission to act decisively and urgently: launch infringement procedures, enforce EU law, and make its Ocean Pact more than just words”, said Marie Colombier, EJF Ocean Campaigner.
The joint complaint focuses on 15 marine Natura 2000 sites where there is evidence that bottom trawling is continuing on a large scale, causing damage to sensitive habitats such as reefs, seagrass beds and sandbanks. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)