Small-Scale Fishermen Demand EU Ban On Bottom Trawling In MPAs

Europe’s small-scale fishing communities have issued a direct challenge to the European Commission, urging Commissioner Kadis to introduce a legally binding ban on bottom trawling in marine protected areas (MPAs) as part of the forthcoming Ocean Act.

The open letter, published during EU Ocean Week in Brussels and signed by fishermen from Spain, Italy, Scotland, Portugal and France, was coordinated by the advocacy group Protect Our Catch (POC). It warns that without decisive EU leadership, “our traditions, knowledge, and livelihoods will cease to exist within a decade.”

“Protected Must Mean Protected”

In the statement, the fishermen emphasise that no one has a greater interest in healthy seas than those who depend on them for survival. “No one wants to protect the sea more than those who make a living from it,” they write, arguing that Europe’s coastal communities are being neglected in favour of industrial fleets operating with subsidised fuel and oversized engines.

The letter points out that some Member States — including Sweden, Greece and Denmark — have already begun taking concrete action to end bottom trawling in MPAs, but accuses the European Commission of failing to match that ambition.

“Commissioner Kadis, while you claim to stand with small-scale fishers and promise policies that will strengthen our position, your words do not yet match your actions,” the signatories wrote. “Without a coordinated European response, our way of life remains in jeopardy.”

Call For Fairness And Sustainability

The POC representatives argue that small-scale fishermen using low-impact methods are being forced out by industrial vessels “that take more in a day than we can in a season.” They warn that cultural heritage, generational continuity and sustainable fishing practices are all at risk as young people abandon the trade.

The letter stresses that protecting marine ecosystems must also mean protecting coastal livelihoods. “We are not asking for special treatment,” the fishermen state, “only for rules that protect the ocean, reward those who fish responsibly, and give our communities a chance to survive.”

Signed by Isaac Moya (Catalonia), Renato Galeotti (Vada), Bally Philips (Highlands), André Dias (Algarve), Paolo Fanciulli (Talamone), and Christian Decugis (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur), the joint appeal represents a unified voice from Europe’s small-scale fishing communities demanding that policymakers prioritise sustainability over short-term industry pressure.

A Plea For Political Courage

The fishermen have called on the European Commission to make the ban on bottom trawling in MPAs a central pillar of the Ocean Act, framing the decision as a matter of political courage and legacy.

They conclude: “Take a clear stand for Europe’s seas and the people who depend on them. Make legally binding targets to ban bottom trawling in marine protected areas a cornerstone of the Ocean Act. Choose a legacy you can be proud of — one that secures healthy seas and gives Europe’s fishermen a thriving future.”