email editor
The Danish Fishermen’s Association Chief Svend-Erik Andersen says the Commission’s plans will harm European fisheries and the marine environment
The Danish Fishermen’s Association has nit out at the European Commission’s ‘Pact for Fisheries and Oceans’ saying that it will harm European fisheries and the marine environment.
To the great frustration of the European fisheries, the EU Commission proposes that a ban be introduced on the use of bottom trawling gear in fishing in all so-called protected marine areas, regardless of whether the designation of the protected area is based on a desire to protect birds and porpoises, conditions in the water column or natural conditions on the seabed. The presentation arouses great wonder and concern in the Danish Fisheries Association and the European sister organisations.
“It is deeply frustrating that the EU Commission comes up with such a proposal. It is populism of the worst kind and more aimed at getting some headlines than securing the marine environment. There are many marine protected areas that are designated for reasons other than protecting reefs or the like on the seabed. It is, for example, to protect birds and marine mammals and in that context, it makes absolutely no sense to introduce a trawl ban, unless you really want to close down fishing,” says chairman of the Danish Fishermen’s Association, Svend-Erik Andersen.
Hard blow against North and West Jutland
The Danish Fishermen’s Association points out that fisheries both contribute with healthy and climate-friendly food and jobs with great regional importance in North and West Jutland. These risks getting out of hand if nature protection areas are not designated and managed on a solid professional basis in dialogue with the fishing industry.
“Fishing contributes to securing jobs and balance in Denmark. If anything, fish is both a healthy and climate-friendly food. Therefore, we must continue to have a basis for commercial fishing and therefore protected natural areas must be designated in dialogue with the fishing industry,” says Svend-Erik Andersen.
According to figures from DTU Aqua, almost 70% of the Danish seabed is not fished with bottom trawling gear. And if trawling is closed, as the EU Commission is proposing, then fishing may be forced to take place on fishing grounds and with fishing methods that mean that more time must be spent at sea, on less optimal fishing grounds and in greater competition with other vessels in a smaller area, which is why the effect of the trawl ban may prove to have an overall negative effect on the marine environment. Go against what was intended with the populist presentation.
“Today we only fish on 32% of the Danish seabed. If you close important fishing grounds for the trawl fishery, the result is that we have to fish more and in a larger area to fish our quotas. Therefore, it is crucial that fishing is taken into consideration when the areas are to be designated,” says Svend-Erik Andersen.
