Environmental NGOs BLOOM and ClientEarth are taking legal action against the French government for failing to comply with EU conservation laws that ban trawling in marine protected areas (MPA) in the Mediterranean.
These habitats are vital for climate regulation and marine biodiversity, with seagrass acting as a major carbon sink and coral reefs providing a foundation for marine food chains.
“These areas are meant to be protected as they’re essential for biodiversity and climate protection,” said Nils Courcy, a legal expert at ClientEarth.
“That’s why this protection is enshrined in law. But in spite of these commitments, and global commitments to protect nature, we’re seeing countries like France constantly bend the rules.”
Despite the EU ban, France continues to allow destructive fishing practices, including bottom trawling, in its MPAs, allege the NGOs. After receiving no response to a formal administrative request to repeal three such decrees, BLOOM and ClientEarth have escalated the matter to the Administrative Court of Paris.
The problem extends to the whole region, they say. Academic research suggests more than 80% of EU MPAs are considered ineffective, offering only minimal protection from industrial activities. Almost 60% of fish stocks are overexploited yet only 0.23% of the Mediterranean is fully or highly protected.
“Several EU countries, including France, are blatantly trampling these rules,” continued Courcy. “We’re taking the issue to court to make sure that protected truly means protected.”
Meanwhile, Greece is taking the lead in protecting MPAs, recently committing to a full ban on bottom trawling in its protected areas by 2030, following scientific recommendations and EU regulations.
