Deep-Sea Fishing Restrictions in the North Atlantic: EU Wins Court Battle Against Spain
Unsuccessful Spanish Demand for Deep-Sea Fishing in the North Atlantic: Fruitless Protest - Attempted Limitation of Deep-Sea Fishing in North-East Atlantic Ocean: Spanish Effort Fails
Want to know about the latest rulings on deep-sea fishing in the North Atlantic? Let's dive in!
The European Union (EU) Commission has been cracking down on deep-sea fishing activities to safeguard vulnerable marine ecosystems in the North Atlantic. In 2022, the Commission identified regions with protected or potentially vulnerable marine life and barred certain fishing methods, such as bottom trawling, from areas having these characteristics.
Unsurprisingly, Spain and Spanish fishing industries didn't agree with the designated zones. They argued that the EU Commission should've evaluated every type of bottom trawling gear for its potential impact on ecosystems. But their objections were squashed by the court, which deemed the Commission wasn't obligated to conduct such an examination. Appeals have been lodged with the European Court of Justice.
- Restriction
- EU
- Spain
- Deep sea
- Luxembourg
- Asturias
- Galicia
- Ecosystem
- EU Commission
You might wonder what exactly these regulations entail. Well, the EU Commission has prohibited the use of bottom trawls below 800 meters across large swaths of the North Atlantic and banned most fishing gear below 400 meters in 87 designated sensitive areas (Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems, or VMEs) to shield species like alfonsinos, black scabbardfish, roundnose grenadier, red seabream, and certain sharks, many of which are slow to reproduce. The ultimate goal is to preserve fish stocks and safeguard the ecosystem from the devastating effects of destructive fishing techniques.
While Spain challenged these regulations, claiming the Commission neglected the economic impact on Spanish fishermen and questioning the scientific basis for the selection of banned fishing gears and protected areas, the EU’s General Court upheld the ban, ruling that the 87 areas were chosen due to the presence of protected species. The court also asserted that regulators aren't required to assess whether certain fishing gear is less damaging or to conduct additional economic impact assessments for fishermen, prioritizing conservation over short-term economic interests.
Bottom trawling, the primary target of these restrictions, is infamous for its destructive impact, often resulting in habitat loss and significant declines in marine biodiversity. The goal behind these protected areas is to shield sensitive ocean floor habitats and slow-growing, endangered species. With the ruling, the EU has affirmed its legal authority to enforce such protections within marine protected areas, reinforcing the need for strong governance to eliminate destructive practices.
This approach signifies a shift toward stricter enforcement of existing regulations to manage the long-term health of marine ecosystems rather than catering to immediate economic issues within the fishing industry. If you're curious about the effects of deep-sea fishing regulations, keep an eye on future developments!
- The European Union (EU) has implemented a policy restricting bottom trawling below 800 meters across vast North Atlantic regions and has banned most fishing gear below 400 meters in 87 sensitive areas (Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems, or VMEs) to protect species like alfonsinos, black scabbardfish, roundnose grenadier, red seabream, and certain sharks.
- Despite Spain's challenge, arguing that the Commission neglected the economic impact on Spanish fishermen and questioning the scientific basis for the selection of banned fishing gears and protected areas, the EU’s General Court upheld the ban, citing the presence of protected species in the designated areas.
- The ruling signifies a shift in competition policy, prioritizing the long-term health of marine ecosystems over immediate economic interests within the fishing industry, affirming the EU's authority to enforce such protections within marine protected areas and reinforcing the need for strong governance to eliminate destructive practices.
