Macron⁢ Aims to Limit Bottom Trawling in French Protected ⁣Marine Areas

Updated ⁢June 7, 2025
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French President emmanuel Macron said Saturday that he intends to limit ‍bottom trawling in specific protected⁢ marine areas. The ‍proclamation came⁢ in an interview published in several regional newspapers, including Ouest-France, just before the Nice summit on oceans.

Macron stated that restricting ⁣activity in areas ⁢where seabed scraping disrupts biodiversity is essential. He added that a consensus-based map, developed with scientists and fishermen, will⁢ be ⁤presented by Agnès Pannier-Runacher, ‍the Minister of Ecological Transition. Macron also urged against stigmatizing fishermen.

Bottom trawling, a non-selective fishing method, faces criticism from environmental groups due ⁤to it’s destructive impact on marine habitats. These groups advocate⁤ for its complete ban in protected marine areas.

The European Union recently presented its ocean protection strategy, recommending ‍the⁢ cessation of bottom trawling in protected areas by 2030. ⁣Currently, 33% of French waters fall under some form of‍ marine protected area, tho most still permit all ‍fishing practices.

Macron‍ also announced the strengthening of protections ⁣in marine protected areas, citing⁣ port-Cros,‍ the Calanques, Corsica, and the Atlantic coast as examples.

France anticipates achieving ‍the European⁣ target of placing 10% of its maritime domain under strong protection by January ‍1, 2026, four years ahead of schedule,⁣ according to Macron. Areas under high or integral‍ protection currently represent only 2.6% of the French maritime field, and less than 0.1% in mainland France.

France’s legal definition of “strong protection” has drawn‍ criticism from NGOs for not aligning with international standards set by the European Union or the International ⁤Union⁣ for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

What’s next

The Nice summit is expected to‍ further address ocean protection strategies and international cooperation on marine conservation.