The Danish Society for Nature Conservation, along with international environmental organizations, has filed a formal complaint with the EU Commission concerning the continued practice of bottom trawling within protected marine areas in Denmark and other nations. The complaint aligns with ongoing discussions about the future of Danish fisheries policy and precedes the UN Ocean Conference in Nice.

The complaint asserts that extensive bottom trawling persists in Danish protected marine areas, despite the EU’s Habitats Directive and a ruling by the EU Court of Justice mandating effective protection against harmful fishing methods. The Danish Society for Nature Conservation argues that Denmark is violating EU law by allowing bottom trawling in officially designated protected marine areas.

Critics say bottom trawling involves dragging heavy fishing gear across the seabed, leading to the destruction of fish habitats, biodiversity damage, and depletion of fish stocks’ food sources. The EU Commission is now responsible for evaluating whether Denmark is in violation of the law, a decision that could significantly impact protected marine areas like the Wadden Sea and the Skagerrak.

The Danish Fishermen’s Association views the complaint and demands of the nature conservation association as disruptive. The Fishermen’s Association has proposed a collaborative approach to achieve meaningful seabed protection, similar to the existing model used on land. The association also welcomes the EU fisheries commissioner’s statement about assessing specific protection needs before banning trawling in an area.