An EU action plan to address fishing practicesThis trawl of the ocean floor could spark a row between conservationists as well as a new industry alliance, which claims it is fighting to protect Europe’s culture.
A third of Europe’s fish are caught by large, industrial fishing vessels. These vessels rake the seafloor with huge nets in a process called “bottom trawling”. These nets can trap fish, according to studies. Up to 41% invertebrate life from the seafloor and cause serious damage to marine environments, such as cold water coral reefs, seagrass beds, and other marine environments.
The EU already bans bottom-trawling At depths greater than 800 metresHowever, the European Commission has promisedIt will implement any restrictions it deems necessary in order to further limit the practice, which it considered the most harmful to the seabed. A delayed package with recommendations and announcements is expected to be made in the spring. It could include a ban of bottom-trawling in marine protected zones (MPAs).
The fishing industry is however ready to fight back with a formal launch of the European Bottom Fishing Alliance later this month. FormedAs a response to a PetitionThe alliance, which unites 14 fishing associations from 14 countries, was signed by 150,000 people in December. It calls for an immediate ban of bottom trawling in MPAs.
The certification schemes make bottom trawling very sustainable, according to the group. Such as the one run the Marine Stewardship CouncilBecause vessels are already required to comply with environmental restrictions imposed by the EU, common fisheries policy.
New trawling regulations could create a supply crunch that could price out many common fish species, including sole, turbot, plaice and halibut, EBFA states.
We don’t want an industry catering to the rich, said Ivan Lpez (chair of EBFA), who runs a trawling company in Spain. It would be unfair to make fish a luxury item. He added that seafood is a cultural and identity issue in Spain.
These arguments are also criticized by others. Joachim Claudet from France’s National Centre for Scientific Research said that while trawling restrictions may raise prices for a time, ecosystems would recover quickly if we stopped trawling. This would mean that there would be more fish to catch using more sustainable methods.
Rebecca Hubbard (programme director for the Our Fish campaign group) described the new industry offensive in a desperate attempt to greenwash the indefensible.
Nicolas Fournier, campaign director for Oceana conservation group, stated that the issue is becoming a battle. He suggested practices like long-line fishing and eating less endangered species and locally caught fish. He stated that it was now or never if we were to take on bottom-trawling.
Brussels has Promised to establish protected areasFor at least 30% of Europe’s oceans, but MPAs, according to EU law, have specific objectives such as protecting seabirds or other marine features.
However, there is some debate about their effectiveness. Fournier stated that the benefits of MPAs are often purely paper-based and that shipping, dredging and oil and gas drilling can still be allowed in MPAs.
One tenthMost waters of Europe are marine protected. More than 2.5m hoursOceana research shows that in 2020, there was bottom trawling within these areas. Bottom trawling may be prohibited in certain areas to protect the seabed. However, there are many other options. [MPAs]Focus on other features and don’t regulate bottom trawling, stated an EU official who chose not to be named.
It is absurd that protected areas can permit trawling, which is one the most harmful human activities at sea, Claudet said.
The EBFA cites studiesRay Hillborn, University of Washington academic to support its case for bottom trawling within MPAs on an individual basis in areas where seabirds have been protected but the seabed has not.
Prof Clare Bradshaw from Stockholm University said that seabirds cannot be treated alone if they are eating fish or other organisms from their seabed.
A spokesperson for the European Commission said that the Commission had to consider the economic consequences of any new measures that could be taken on an industry sector that accounts for 25% of the EU’s fishing fleet. The official stated that we will not try to ban all gears from all waters. Instead, we will focus on how to protect the seabed. We will also use science to determine how to balance these decisions.
Research suggests that sedimentary disturbances caused by bottom trawling could cause more CO2 emissions than the entire world’s aviation fleet.
All of this creates uncertainty for the EU fishing sector, which critics claim has grown accustomed to punching above its weight at Brussels.
Like farmers, fisherman also carry. Lobbying influence is significantMany believe they have lost in the debates over Brexit and catch limits, and could now be up against further restrictions. Lopez said that the green agreement is pushing too far on fisheries. We feel that the argument is too biased in one direction. [environmental]he said, “It’s not our problem.”
