Rewrite of EU marine protection roadmap and stakeholder responses

Protect and restore marine ecosystems

The European Commission has laid out a step-by-step roadmap to bring all marine protected areas in the European Union to full protection by 2030. As an interim measure, member states are expected to specify zones where the use of destructive bottom-contact fishing methods can be halted, with concrete actions to manage at least 20% of the required marine areas by March 2024. Spain has expressed disagreement with the decision, and no resolution has been reached. (Source: European Commission briefing, 2024)

Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, spoke at a press event to confirm the plan. He explained that the goal is to restore degraded marine lands and to lessen the impact of fishing activities on ocean ecosystems. (Source: EU press conference summary)

The plan seeks to reduce the impact of fisheries on the seabed, which serves as a biodiversity hotspot across EU waters. The Commission urges member states to submit joint recommendations and to adopt national measures designed to phase out mobile bottom fishing in all protected areas by 2030 at the latest, with no new protected areas opening to these practices. (Source: EU policy document)

Early measures targeting Natura 2000 sites under the Habitats Directive that protect seabed habitats and marine life are expected to begin as soon as March 2024. (Source: Natura 2000 directive timeline)

Agencies, plans and four-document package

This maritime policy package comprises four documents: the Common Fisheries Policy, an assessment of the joint organization of fisheries and aquaculture markets, an action plan to protect and restore marine ecosystems and promote sustainable fishing, and a strategy for the energy transition of the EU fishing industry. (Source: EU policy package overview)

Troll at work — PS

In parallel with immediate actions, the Commission expects member states to prepare roadmaps detailing steps to implement the action plan. At minimum, these plans should identify areas where trawling is prohibited, reflect the commitments to create new marine protected areas by 2030, and specify which fleets are affected. (Source: EU roadmap guidance)

By mid-2023, EU countries should set limits on the maximum seabed width that can be affected by fishing activity and implement national measures without delay, or, where suitable, submit joint recommendations to enforce these thresholds. (Source: EU regulatory timetable)

The Commission will monitor the progress of joint recommendations within regional groups of member states and will support the development of innovative solutions to limit the effects of bottom fishing. (Source: EU monitoring plan)

Agreed at COP15 in Montreal

The EU’s actions align with commitments made at COP15 in Montreal, Canada, signaling a new global biodiversity framework anchored in the 2030 EU Biodiversity Strategy. The strategy aims to legally protect seas and expand marine protected areas from the current 12% to 30%. (Source: COP15 outcomes and EU Biodiversity Strategy)

The package also includes a plan for the energy transition within the fishing sector: helping ships and equipment adapt, boosting the use of renewable and low-carbon energy, and pursuing a gradual transformation. The Commissioner emphasized ongoing, constructive dialogue among communities to build a profitable, sustainable, and resilient fishing industry. (Source: Commissioner remarks)

Industry response

Brussels’ communique characterizes trawling as a highly destructive activity for the seabed and environment. Industry groups such as Europeche and the European Bottom Fishing Alliance (EBFA) have criticized the goal of phasing out bottom trawling. (Source: industry statements)

Some voices argue that environmental protections must harmonize with essential food production. They warn that turning oceans into protected havens could harm livelihoods and biodiversity if not approached with care. (Source: industry statements)

Commissioner Sinkevičius stressed that no ban is proposed unilaterally; rather, measures must be implemented by member states with care, and any bill would follow a thorough impact assessment to ensure social, economic, and environmental considerations are balanced. (Source: Commissioner remarks)

Brussels has proposed a new fisheries and oceans agreement as a new phase of cooperation, highlighting the need for trust and collaboration among stakeholders to advance a mutually beneficial and sustainable fishing sector. (Source: EU policy overview)

Environmental perspectives

Environmental groups have described the proposal as insufficient. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has suggested that the ambitions do not adequately bridge fisheries policy with nature protection, noting a risk of delay in achieving critical goals. (Source: WWF statement)

Our Fishes organization criticized the plan as fragile, arguing that current measures must be more immediately effective against overfishing and climate-driven pressures. They call for rapid action to halt species losses and to actively restore wildlife populations. (Source: Our Fishes commentary)

Seas at Risk welcomed the recognition of the need to shift away from low-impact fishing and to modernize the industry, but criticized the target of phasing out bottom trawling in all protected areas by 2030 as potentially allowing destructive gear in some zones for too long. (Source: Seas at Risk analysis)

Overall, the environmental community stresses that a robust, accelerated plan is essential to safeguard marine life and support the transition to sustainable fisheries. (Source: NGO assessments)

For further context and official position papers, the environment department’s communications are available for stakeholders seeking detailed briefings and data. (Source: EU environment department, general references)