NGOs, industry and scientific community call for a destructive fishing ban in EU’s marine protected areas

Following the conclusion of second edition of the European Ocean Days, held in Brussels from 3 to 7 March 2025, ocean advocates BLOOM, Blue Marine Foundation, Défense des Milieux Aquatiques, Empesca’t, National Geographic Pristine Seas, Oceana, Only One and Seas At Risk, in collaboration with fishers and scientists are urging EU Commissioner Costas Kadis to call for a ban on destructive fishing practices like bottom trawling in marine protected areas (MPAs), following his comments when asked about the regulation of bottom trawling in MPAs, Kadis stated, “’my answer is: it depends”.