Protecting Cabliers: Exceptional Mediterranean coral reefs
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Legacy: Habitats Protection
Closing 70% of Europe’s seas to bottom trawling: little loss to fishing sector but huge environmental gains
Advice by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) released today shows that reducing bottom-trawling efforts by 26% could result in protecting 70% of Europe’s Atlantic sea area with small impact on the fishing sector, while delivering huge benefits to the marine environment. These include restoring biodiversity and mitigating climate change. Nicolas … Read more
Oceana urges bold action to ban bottom-trawling in Europe’s ‘protected’ areas
Oceana is calling on Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to support a ban on bottom trawling, the most harmful and unselective fishing gear, in all EU marine protected areas (MPAs). The European Parliament’s environment committee (ENVI) will vote on its opinion on the EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy on 27-28 May. Nicolas Fournier, Campaign Director, … Read more
Oceana proposes fisheries management revamp for Cabrera post-expansion
To mark the 30th anniversary in April of the designation of Cabrera national park in the Balearic islands, Oceana is presenting a proposal for better fisheries management of the enlarged area of the park to be considered in the new management plan which will be developed by the park authorities. Our proposal, which includes fisheries … Read more
Unmanaged = Unprotected: Europe’s marine paper parks
Visit our online viewer to explore threats in European MPAs in more detail Executive Summary In the face of intense human pressure on European seas, a network of well-managed marine protected areas (MPAs) is critical for marine biodiversity protection. In 2018, the EU (including, at the time, the United Kingdom) declared having met international targets … Read more
Seamounts: Giants in danger
Introduction Underwater seamounts are often referred to as oases of the ocean, as they are home to rich ecosystems living at various depths on their slopes, benefiting from ocean currents that increase biological productivity and attract other marine life. Used as ‘stepping stones’ for transoceanic dispersion of species, and as reproduction or feeding grounds for … Read more
On International Mountain Day, Oceana sheds light on poorly protected underwater mountains
To mark International Mountain Day, Oceana is drawing attention to threatened underwater mountains, known as seamounts, that are important hotspots of marine biodiversity. These submarine elevations can rise several kilometers above the seafloor and play a crucial ecological role in the functioning of deep-sea ecosystems. Just like terrestrial mountains, seamounts create highly productive areas that … Read more
Early Christmas present for Scotland’s iconic minke whales, basking sharks and Risso’s dolphins
Oceana welcomes the designation of four new Scottish Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas (NCMPAs) as an important contribution to the ecological coherence of the Scottish Marine Protected Areas (MPA) network. The four sites – Southern Trench, North-east Lewis, Sea of the Hebrides and Shiant East Bank – will grant protection to a rich array of … Read more
Oceana: weak implementation of EU Mediterranean fisheries law leaves sensitive habitats unprotected
Italy is worst-performing Member State, allowing bottom fishing to occur over sensitive habitats and in “protected” areas Extending the current trawl ban to within 10 nm of the coast or 150 m depth would protect almost the totality of sensitive habitats under the Mediterranean Regulation Following the release of the European Court of Auditors’ marine … Read more
