Five international NGOs have filed a complaint with the European Commission against France, Germany and Italy, who accused them of non -respecting European standards for the protection of protected marine areas. Despite the obligations provided by Habitats DirectiveOverhanging SPRAOT remains undisturbed, seriously threatening European biodiversity biodiversity
The exposure to the European Commission is coming during the “Our Ocean” conference
During the global conference “Our Ocean”and about Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) Blue Marine Foundation” Clientarth” Defense of aquatic environments (DMA) E German Umwelthilfe EV They presented a formal complaint to the European Commission.
The legal action criticizes the serious and systematic violations By France, Germany and Italy of the EU regulations with regard to the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems. Organizations require the start of infringement procedures and the referral of the three states to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Travel fishing: what it is and why it is harmful to the environment
The train It is a technique that provides the drag of a network on the bottom of the sea, executed by one or two boats. Although it may seem simple and profitable, it is extremelyBecause the drama of the network seriously damages the seabed, flora and fish fauna.
The critical problems of train fishing
The complaint emphasizes how underlying trawl fishing, very destructive practice for the Bentonic habitats, is still allowed in most of the Protected marine areas (Amplifier). The data is clear: this technique is still used in 77% of the French amplifier, 85% of German and in 44% of Italian. EU regulations, including the Habitats Directiveare therefore ignored.
Violations of widespread and legal standard values
NGOs reject that Member States do not prevent harmful activities within the amplifier, in clear violation of community law. In some countries, including France and Germany, national legal proceedings are already underway due to the non -compliance with the European environmental rules. According to EJF, customer art and the other NGOs, it is essential that the committee acts urgently and firmly to guarantee the actual application of existing laws.
The most serious cases
The complaint focuses on 15 marine sites of the Natura 2000 NetworkWhere the industrial train continues to damage coral reefs, fans of fanserogame and sandbanks.
One of the most serious cases: in Germany, more than 32,800 Disidept -annual hours registered between 2020 and 2024 in the protected area of the Waden Sea. In France, 9,016 hours in the Western Baie de Seine, most of which on sandblasting. In Italy, 11,923 hours a year in the area “Care Tursiops cut off”Intended for the protection of cetaceans and marine habitats.
It is urgent to save biodiversity and to protect the environment
Marie Colombier By EJF underlines: “These legal obligations are not optional. Not applying them means condemning the marine fauna and the future of coastal communities».
Even representatives of DMA, Blue Marine Foundation and DUH emphasize the urgency to stop the decline of biodiversity and to protect small fishermen. Travel fishing, they say, is incompatible with the objectives of the marine regeneration.
The regulatory framework and the European objectives by 2030
The complaint requires the rigorous application of the Habitats Directive, which emphasizes the need to prohibit the mobile train in EU AMS by 2030. This action is in accordance with the EU strategy for biodiversity in 2030 and with the global Kunming-Montheal framework, which wants to protect 30% of the European Seasons.
The role of monitoring tools
The data presented in the complaint were collected and analyzed by EJF via the Global Fishing Watch platform, in which GIS (QGIS) tools and statistical software (R Studio) are combined. The information shows the enormous pressure that is exerted by train fishing in the European seas: more than 1.7 million hours a year activities in the amplifier, with 79% of the coastal requirement physically disturbed.
The following steps of the European Commission
The committee will have to respond within a year. Can decide to start an infringement procedure or archive the case. The initiative follows earlier legal actions by EJF and DMA against the French government (February 2025) and through customer art in Germany, the Netherlands and Spain. The file was drawn up with the support of law firms, including Huglo Lepage, Squire Patton Boggs, Trustlaw and Hogan Lovells.
The NGOs involved
DMA – Defense of aquatic environments
Worked in legal actions for the protection of aquatic ecosystems, it has obtained the reduction of the revision fishing season on the coast of Arcachon from 12 to 5 months.
Blue Marine Foundation
British foundation for the preservation of the oceans, focuses on the protection of 30% of the oceans by 2030 and the sustainable management of the entire marine environment.
Deutsche Environmental Aid EV (Duh)
German association without a profit that promotes sustainable lifestyle and protects marine ecosystems through legal actions and public campaigns.
Clientarth
International legal organization that uses the right to deal with worldwide environmental crises, with offices in Europe, Asia and the United States.
Huglo Lepage Avocats
Law firm Expert in Environmental Law and Biodiversity offers advice on authorizations, protection and sustainable management plans for natural resources