Phasing Out Bottom Trawling in European Waters Archives

Frequently Asked Questions on Bottom Trawling

Bottom trawling is considered to be one of the most destructive forms of fishing. It drags heavy, weighted nets across the seafloor, indiscriminately catching large quantities of fish and other species in its path. Bottom trawling can be compared to bulldozing the ocean in the sense that it scoops up everything in its path, from fish and shrimps, to seagrass, sponges, and corals. Not only does bottom trawling often lead to overfishing, but it is also highly unselective, killing many non-target species (e.g. turtles) and juvenile ones (e.g. hake) too, so reducing marine biodiversity and disrupting ocean food … Read more

New report: protecting the Mediterranean deep sea from trawling is scientifically-backed and makes climate sense

Brussels – Ahead of World Oceans Day (8 June), environmental organisations Oceana and MedReAct are releasing a new report, warning that destructive activities such as bottom trawling are threatening Mediterranean deep-sea ecosystems, weakening their ability to buffer climate impacts and to support marine life. The independent study was authored by scientists from Marche Polytechnic University (Italy). The organisations are urging the General Fisheries Commission … Read more

Creating an exclusive coastal zone for small-scale fishers would bring minimal costs but maximum gains for marine life, fishers, and the blue economy in Cyprus, says Oceana

44 countries worldwide have created such exclusive zones for small-scale fishers, which have proven to work in protecting the livelihoods of fishing communities Nicosia – As the European Maritime Day kicks off today in Limassol (Cyprus), marine conservation NGO Oceana is releasing the results of a new analysis of bottom trawling in Cypriot waters. The findings reveal … Read more

Spain’s National High Court Requests More Information in Oceana and ClientEarth Case on Bottom Trawling Impacts in Marine Protected Areas

The court asks environmental organisations to explain the evidence of the impact of bottom trawling in marine protected areas in the Cantabrian Sea and the Gulf of CádizDespite ongoing legal action, the Government continues issuing fishing authorisations in marine protected areas, contrary to national conservation laws Oceana and ClientEarth appeared today before Spain’s National High … Read more

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