Environmentalists are criticizing Denmark’s marine protection efforts, arguing that they are insufficient despite the country’s ratification of international agreements and the existence of various protection schemes in nearly a third of its national waters. According to the government’s Biodiversity Council, a mere 1.9 percent of the Danish sea area is actually protected against fishing with bottom-dragging gear, particularly trawling, which can severely damage the seabed.

Thomas Kirk Sørensen from WWF expresses strong dissatisfaction, stating that Denmark has performed poorly in protecting its seas. He suggests that the country has been “really bad at it.”

Marine biologist Jørgen L.S. Hansen supports the statement, pointing out that the majority of marine protection measures in Denmark are inadequate. He claims that these measures only benefit a limited portion of biodiversity and fail to enhance fish resources effectively.