The European Commission has urged member states to ban trawling across at least 20% of national waters by March 2024, as a preliminary move toward phasing out this fishing method from marine protected areas. The horizon for full elimination is set for 2030, with the aim of removing trawling from all protected zones. The proposal has sparked worry in the fishing sectors of several regions, which have already faced significant reductions in allowable fishing hours in recent years.
European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginius Sinkevicius stated that the proposed measures are designed to restore damaged marine ecosystems and lessen the environmental footprint of fishing activities. The plan’s text specifies that by the end of March next year, member states should implement national actions or present joint recommendations to phase out trawling in all existing protected areas and to forbid it in newly designated zones. The ultimate objective is to eliminate this method from every protected area by 2030.
Additionally, by mid-year, EU countries must establish thresholds for the maximum extent of seabed wear or loss caused by human activity and adopt enforcement measures to ensure compliance with these limits.
While the exact impact of these measures remains difficult to quantify, the European Commission’s proposal has generated concern within the Alicante fishing community. To date, 130 trawlers have faced various cuts and are now struggling to work one hundred and fifty-five of the 240 fishing days they previously relied upon over three years ago. [Attribution: European Commission]
EU approves a ten-day cutoff for fishing and prompts industry to rethink vessel usage
Juan Mulet, secretary of the Provincial Brethren Federation, notes that roughly 30% of Alicante’s waters are protected due to fishermen’s advocacy. In some zones, fishing is completely prohibited, while in others activity is allowed only during certain periods. Mulet explains, “We cannot yet gauge the full consequences of this measure, but any further cuts could become the last straw for the sector, especially in light of rising fuel costs and social security burdens.”
Mulet regrets that many reductions were enacted without broad consultation. He stresses that the industry views this style of fishing as a traditional practice with minimal environmental impact, and he urges policymakers to consider the cultural and economic dimensions that accompany the change. [Attribution: Provincial Brethren Federation]