Phasing Out Bottom Trawling in European Waters Archives

ClientEarth and Oceana take Spanish government back to court over destructive bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas

The environmental organisations took legal action against Spain for repeatedly issuing new fishing licences in Marine Protected Areas, despite earlier legal complaints The NGOs warn that Spain’s international ocean protection commitments are meaningless as long as bottom trawling continues to be allowed in marine sanctuaries ClientEarth and Oceana brought the Spanish Government to court again … Read more

UNOC3: Some positive steps, but EU still falling far short of truly protecting its marine areas from destructive fishing

Nice, 13 June 2025 – As the third UN Ocean Conference concludes in Nice, Oceana acknowledges positive commitments by countries including Portugal and Denmark to protect their marine protected areas from destructive fishing, such as bottom trawling. Oceana however deplores the mere token gestures announced by France – the host of the conference – and … Read more

Oceana criticizes France’s announcement on bottom trawling in marine protected areas at UNOC3

On Monday, June 9, as the third United Nations Ocean Conference gets underway in Nice, France, President Emmanuel Macron announced that he will “limit” bottom trawling – an extremely destructive and wasteful fishing method that bulldozes the seafloor, destroying everything in its path – in some of the country’s marine protected areas. Specifically, France will … Read more

‘Protect the ocean, protect life!’: Ocean advocates make global call for action before UN Ocean Conference

Ocean advocates took to the streets of Nice, France ahead of the United Nations Ocean Conference to call for stronger ocean protection. Organised by a coalition of marine and environmental NGOs led by Brussels-based Seas At Risk, the march comes just days after the announcement of the European Commission’s Ocean Pact, at a time when … Read more

Over a quarter of a million Europeans urge the EU to end bottom trawling in marine protected areas

Citizens urge EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans to better manage protected areas for the benefit of fishers and the ocean Brussels – Today [13 May] representatives of small-scale fishers, scientists, citizens and civil society organisations handed in a petition (here & here) to the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, signed by over 250,000 … Read more

Multiple EU countries are failing to stop destructive fishing in Protected Areas, analysis finds, as several face legal action

NGOs call for evaluation of Marine Action Plan and new rules to strengthen protection of EU seas Brussels – No EU country has comprehensive plans to phase out destructive fishing, like bottom trawling, from marine protected areas (MPAs) by 2030, a new analysis released today by marine NGOs Oceana, Seas At Risk and ClientEarth reveals. … Read more

As EU ocean days conclude, civil society, fishers, and the scientific community call on Commissioner Kadis to affirm that bottom trawling has no place in marine protected areas

Monday, March 10th–Following the conclusion of EU Ocean Days, leading ocean advocates — BLOOM, Blue Marine Foundation, Défense des Milieux Aquatiques, National Geographic Pristine Seas, Oceana, Only One, and Seas At Risk — in collaboration with fishers and scientists, are urging Commissioner Kadis to support a ban on destructive fishing practices such as bottom trawling … Read more

How Denmark’s bottom trawling ban could benefit marine conservation

In a bid to restore its marine environment, Denmark has announced a proposal to expand its ban on bottom trawling, which will cover a total area of around 23,000 km², equivalent to 17% of its sea area. Currently, fishing with bottom trawling gear is prohibited in 4,864km² of Danish waters. This proposed expansion marks a … Read more

NGOs welcome Denmark’s new proposal to ban destructive bottom trawling in key areas – and urge the EU to take stronger action

Environment NGOs Seas At Risk, Danish Nature Conservation Association, Oceana and ClientEarth welcome the Danish government’s proposal to ban bottom trawling in over 17% of Danish waters. The establishment of trawl-free areas is a long-awaited step that will provide a much-needed opportunity for marine ecosystems to recover as bottom trawling has pushed the region to … Read more

Sweden sets an example for EU countries with first steps to ban bottom trawling in marine protected areas

NGOs – the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC), Seas At Risk, Oceana and ClientEarth – welcome last night’s Swedish government proposal to amend legislation, paving the way for a future ban on bottom trawling in Swedish marine protected areas. NGOs celebrate this as an important milestone and urge other EU governments to follow the … Read more