In response to the European Court of Auditors’ Special Report on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), the European Bottom Fisheries Alliance (EBFA) and Europêche call for science-based conservation policies that deliver measurable ecological outcomes while taking into account socio-economic impacts on fishing communities.
The organisations welcome the Court’s emphasis on stronger monitoring, stakeholder involvement and effective management, but stress that existing fisheries conservation measures must be recognised and that fishing activities should not be automatically equated with environmental damage.
EBFA and Europêche advocate for site-specific scientific assessments, proportionate conservation measures, greater investment in innovation and meaningful involvement of fishers in decision-making. They also underline the need to assess all pressures on marine ecosystems, rather than disproportionately focusing on fishing.
The objective must be to achieve healthier seas while safeguarding viable, sustainable and resilient fishing communities.
Read the full press release below:
Press contact
Margot Angibaud, Secretary of EBFA, info@bottomfishingalliance.eu (+32 494 19 03 96)
