Environmental organisations have launched legal action against the French government, accusing it of failing to protect endangered seabirds from deadly fishing practices in its waters.
The case, brought before the Conseil d’État by ClientEarth, Sea Shepherd France and Défense des Milieux Aquatiques, alleges that authorities have not adequately monitored or reduced bycatch where seabirds are unintentionally caught in fishing gear.
Each year, tens of thousands of seabirds are estimated to die off French coasts after becoming entangled in longlines, gillnets and trawls targeting species such as hake, sea bass and tuna. A study published in the Zoological Society of London indicates France records some of Europe’s highest seabird bycatch levels.
Species affected include the Balearic shearwater, the Northern gannet and the common guillemot, all listed under threat on the IUCN Red List.
“Thousands of seabirds are dying in French waters every year – a tragedy that can be prevented,” the organisations said in a joint statement.
“There is no time to waste. France must step up and put in place the protections that science and the law clearly demand.”
The NGOs argue that France is breaching European environmental legislation, including the Birds and Habitats Directives, by failing to collect sufficient data and implement mitigation measures already used in other countries.
Bycatch is considered one of the most significant threats to seabird populations, yet remains largely unseen, as most birds drown at sea without washing ashore.
The complaint follows an ongoing infringement procedure by the European Commission against France over similar concerns, increasing pressure on authorities to act swiftly.
