Deep-Sea Trawling Ban Protects 4.9 Million Square Kilometers in European Oceans - Oceana

Victory | June 30, 2016

Deep-Sea Trawling Ban Protects 4.9 Million Square Kilometers in European Oceans

Oceana in Europe campaigned with our colleagues in the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition for the prohibition of deep sea bottom trawling in the North East Atlantic waters. This victory provides increased protection for vulnerable marine ecosystems and deep-sea sharks. The European Parliament, Council and Commission reached an agreement that bans all trawling below 800m depth and that stops bottom fishing activity below 400m if the presence of vulnerable marine ecosystems is demonstrated. These actions protect 4.9 million km2 – an area larger than the EU itself.