Despite European countries’ commitments to protect the ocean, harmful fisheries practices like bottom-trawling are continuing inside Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which are supposed to protect Europe’s most fragile and valuable marine ecosystems.
The EU Action Plan on Oceans is due to be released by the European Commission later this year, with the fishing industry lobby pressuring European policymakers to maintain the status quo in MPAs and protect their profits.
Citizen action has the power to counter this influential fishing industry lobby. Seas At Risk, Oceana and Our Fish have launched a citizens’ petition, urging European decision makers to include a ban on bottom-trawling in all MPAs in the EU Action Plan.
Posted on: 3 June 2021
