The Natura 2000 network of protected areas has been conceived Protection of the habitats and endangered EU species. The EU legislation requires Member States to take measures to maintain and restore habitats and protected species in a favorable state of preservation within the areas of Special Conservation (ZEC) of Natura 2000. This includes the obligation of the Member States of the prevention of environmental damage And evaluating the risks of human activities, such as fishing, before they are authorized in these places.
The Bans des Flandres and Chausey, located at the Canal de la Mancha, are ZEC designated by its unique sand and cones They serve as crucial nurseries for life at sea. Despite the conservation requirements, the open satellite satellite data shows that on average 83 ships use that background
Legal actions against France for fishing
The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) and Defense des Environmentalx Aquatiques (DMA) have today taken legal measures against France to not prohibit the Background resistance in the protected marine areas (AMP) of the Natura 2000 network. The two NGOs have filed a lawsuit for the Supreme Court (the Conseil d’etat) with regard to the Chauze amplifier, and for the administrative court of Rouen, with regard to the amplifier of Bans des des Fand, by the Failure by France due to his obligation to protect the marine environment against damage caused by background resistance fishingwho, in his opinion, violates national and community legislation.
The background resistance, a fishing method consisting of dragging nets weighed by the seabed, is one of the main causes of habitat destruction in the protected marine areas (AMP). It causes permanent damage to the ecosystems of the seabed.
In France, however, this destructive practice is followed Enter 77 % of the marine spaces of the Natura 2000 network (77 % of the special nature conservation zones (ZEC) are marien as a whole or mostly), which represents a violation of national environment and EU legislation. In the past five years, around 200,000 hours of drags fish per year have been registered with the French amplifier if there should be none.
The petition, aimed at two AMP, shows the broader failure of the French government when enforcing protection in all French waters. Despite his role Fundamentally in climate regulation, preservation of biodiversity and sustainable fishingProtected marine areas (AMP) are seriously damaged by the low application of the standards and the lack of effective management measures. In view of the imminence of the United Nations Conference on the Oceans, which will be held in Nice, the two NGOs coordinated, together with the “Protect Our Catch” campaign, only one, urging France to make their leadership Show in the preservation of marine.
Pronouncement
«We are starting these legal steps because, despite the fact that the Natura 2000 -NETN”, Marie Colombier, responsible for the Oceanic campaign of EJF.
«It is time for the French authorities to act to protect the valuable hotpoints of Marina de France. How can France World Action Leiden in favor of our Blue Planet and Credibility The next conference of the United Nations about the oceans, which will be held in Nice?
“The background resistance is contrary to the preservation of biodiversity and the legal obligations of France about the protection of AMP,” Ha Declarado Raphaëlle Jeannel, Main Abogada van Huglo Lepage Avocats. “Currently, maintaining marine biodiversity is a matter of right and the state must guarantee its effective compliance.”
“If the current regulations in the AMP were to be used correctly, the traditional coastal fish, a sustainable and low impact practice and the local economies could boost,” he said Philippe Garcia, president of the DMA. «However, current policy gives priority to short -term and over -exploitation benefits, which causes the breakdown of ecosystems and leaves fishermen without a clear direction. Sustainable fishing depends on healthy marine ecosystems and, without effective action, the future of the sector is still in danger ».
“Support these legal action”, Mathilde Ollivier, French senator. «On the eve of the United Nations conference about the oceans, the government must do what it says and ultimately guarantee real protection of the protected marine areas. At the moment, France is not in its ambitions in the preservation of marine ecosystems.