NGOs file a complaint in Brussels for stopping background trawling in « protected » sea areas – Liberation
In some Protected sea areas European, deep trawling is still authorized. This technique of destructive fishingwhich aims to scrape the seabed without discernment, is at the heart of a complaint, filed Tuesday March 29 by five associations with the European Commission.
These European organizations – the Environmental Justice Foundation, Blue Marine Foundation, Client, Defense of Aquatic Environment and Deutsche Umwelthilfe (German environmental protection) – accuse France, Germany and Italy of missing « Bravely and systematically to their duty to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems, in violation of European law ».
Provided for by European law, this procedure provides that, after being seized, Brussels assesses the complaint, before deciding to classify it or launch an offense procedure against the member states concerned.
Environmental legislation of the European Union, including the “Habitats” directive, impose measures marine life protection,, « But the reality is quite different », point these NGOs. According to them, European governments continue to authorize devastating fishing techniques in protected sea areas, annihilating fragile habitats.
Despite the entry into force of this directive since 1992, « 90 % of protected habitats and species in France remain in poor condition, for lack of application » of real protection measuresunderlines Philippe Garcia, the president of the NGO Defense of aquatic circles.
And the extent of the problem is alarming: background trawling is currently practiced in 77 % of Natura 2,000 French sailors, 85 % of German sites and 44 % of Italian sites, areas supposed to be safe shelters for marine fauna.
« The complaint relates to fifteen Natura 2,000 marine sites where many evidence shows that the backdrop is continuing without restriction, damaging sensitive habitats such as reefs, sea herbaries and sand banks », specify associations. Procedures have also been initiated before French and German courts.
« We call on the European Commission to act with determination and emergency: to initiate offense procedures, enforce European legislation and to ensure that its Ocean pact is more than a simple declaration, explains Marie Colombier, Ocean campaign manager at the Environmental Justice Foundation. These laws are not optional. Not to respect them is to destroy the marine flora and fauna, the health of our oceans and the future of fishermen’s communities across Europe. ”
« The German authorities recognized last year that the underground trawling was the main cause of degradation of the habitats of the North Sea, but they do not take any measure, » Mistigerates Svane Bender, head of the Nature Conservation Department at the Deutsche Umwelthilfe.
The referral of the European Commission will not necessarily succeed, but it has the merit, according to NGOs, to alert on the impact of underground trawling, as the United Nations Conference approaches on the ocean (UNOC 3), to be held from June 9 to 13 in Nice. « The complaint at European level is a long procedure, but it is a strategic lever to show the extent of the problem », Consider Marie Colombier.
The European Commission must respond within one year after receipt of the complaint. It can decide to initiate an offense against the countries concerned or to close the file. The Foundation for Environmental Justice and the NGO Defense of aquatic circles have already formed a legal action in February against the French government for having authorized the background trawling in its protected marine areas.
Despite everything, in accordance with its commitments to protect biodiversity, the European Union plans to gradually eliminate this fishing technique identified in its marine areas protected by 2030.
