Oceana celebrates deep-sea trawling ban covering 4.9 million km2

EU takes a huge step towards protecting deep-sea vulnerable ecosystems by banning bottom trawling below 800m in North-East Atlantic

Press Release Date: June 30, 2016

Location: Madrid

Contact:

Marta Madina | email: mmadina@oceana.org | tel.: Marta Madina

This afternoon, after 4 years of on-and-off negotiations, the European Commission, European Parliament and Council of the EU have announced a final agreement on new regulation for deep-sea fisheries in the North-East Atlantic. In a preliminary reaction, and pending final details of the agreement, Oceana warmly welcomes this clear step forward in the management of deep-sea fish stocks and the protection of vulnerable ecosystems 800m below ocean surface.

“We are eager to see this agreement formally adopted by the European institutions. Deep-sea species and habitats are the most vulnerable to overexploitation. The way deep-sea fisheries are regulated and managed is far from responsible”, said Lasse Gustavsson, Executive Director of Oceana in Europe. “This ban on bottom trawling covering 4.9 million km2 –an area larger than the EU itself- will definitely set a major precedent in the protection of the vulnerable deep-sea”, added Gustavsson.

Video: Stand up for the deep!