Maintaining these closures would reaffirm the EU’s position on ocean health and the protection of marine ecosystems: DSCC
International environmental organisation Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC), which represents over 130 non-governmental organisations, fishers’ associations, and law and policy institutes, has urged European Commissioner for Oceans and Fisheries, Costas Kadis, to maintain protections for 87 deep-sea areas closed to fishing in 2022.
In a press statement, DSCC says that this call follows a recent ruling by the European Court of Justice, which confirmed the legality of the closures. Additionally, the group raises concerns about ongoing political efforts, led by some Spanish Members of the European Parliament and representatives from the fishing industry, to revisit the decision based on economic claims.
It adds that scientific and economic assessments by the European Commission have not shown clear evidence of widespread economic harm caused by the closures. The group adds that reversing the protections would go against the EU’s stated goals for ocean conservation, as outlined in the European Ocean Pact presented at the UN Ocean Conference.
DSCC says that environmental organisations are calling on Commissioner Kadis to stand by the existing protections and to reject any attempt to roll them back for political or short-term economic reasons.
The coalition says that maintaining these closures would reaffirm the EU’s position on ocean health and the protection of marine ecosystems.
Sandrine Polti
“These 87 deep-sea closures were established to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems under the best available science, law and the precautionary principle. Reopening them under industry pressure would not only risk irreparable damage, it would also undermine the EU’s credibility as a leader in ocean protection,” says Sandrine Polti, Europe Lead, DSCC.
