This Tuesday, an amendment to exclude industrial fishing from protected areas was not retained, to the chagrin of environmental NGOs. MEPs preferred a more restricted measure.
Despite pressure from NGOs, the European Parliament is missing an opportunity to better protect the oceans and their biodiversity. Meeting in plenary session this Tuesday in Strasbourg, MEPs did not validate the total ban on trawling, a particularly destructive fishing method, in all marine protected areas. These areas, which should cover 30% of the oceans in 2030, are currently subject to very few or no restrictions and industrial fishing can take place there. Only the so-called “strictly protected” marine areas, fewer in number, are protected from the presence of boats dragging huge nets and scraping the seabed.
“Sad day”
Belgian MEP from the Greens group Caroline Roose took advantage of the vote on an initiative report on the blue economy to introduce an ambitious amendment: a ban on trawling in all so-called “protected” marine areas in Europe. In France, the Bloom association had led a campaign to raise awareness of this measure and thus put an end to the absurdity. Friends of the Earth, France Nature Environnement and even scientists supported this position.
But this amendment was opposed by another much less restrictive one, pushed by a Macronist MEP in the Parliament of Strasbourg: Pierre Karleskind. Member of the centrist group Renew Europe and president of the Pech Commission of the European Parliament, the latter had in fact proposed to prohibit harmful fishing methods in strictly protected areas, which is already the case, by introducing conditions. In short, a ban but with a very limited scope. In an interview with ReleaseClaire Nouvian, founder of Bloom, had denounced this maneuver which she described as“smoking”.
Finally, this Tuesday, MEPs voted in majority for Pierre Karleskind’s amendment (319 for, 280 against and 35 abstentions). “Sad day”Tweeted Caroline Roose. “The Conservatives and part of the Liberals side with the industrial fishing lobbies rather than the oceans and the climate”, denounced French MEP Marie Toussaint. The right and the extreme right voted in favour, while the Greens and the left opposed it.
Sad day.
A majority of MPs ranging from the Liberals to the far right voted for the amendment @RenewEurope to leave the vast majority of marine protected areas to be devastated by bottom trawls, a fishing technique that scrapes and destroys the bottom of the seas.??? pic.twitter.com/PdzNUgDwQi— Caroline Roose ? ? ?? (@CarolineRooseEU) May 3, 2022
They did it. They proudly opposed the total ban on #trawling background in marine protected areas.
The Conservatives and some of the Liberals side with the industrial fishing lobbies rather than the #oceans and #climate. pic.twitter.com/QUpUfLpTOv
— Marie Toussaint ?? (@marietouss1) May 3, 2022
Macronie in the viewfinder
The vote of the centrist group Renew Europe was closely scrutinized. It is disappointing and divided. In the French camp, the LREM Stéphane Séjourné and Pascal Canfin finally voted against the amendment considering that it was insufficiently protective of the seabed. A way of not going against the will expressed by the candidate Macron to redouble his ambition for the environment.
Belgian MEP Frédérique Ries, vice-president of Renew, also voted against. She regretted Twitter “a missed opportunity” for more ambitious measures. “It is a real disaster for the climate and biodiversity”, also apologized Claire Nouvian on Twitter. And to add: “It’s clear, Emmanuel Macron: your “ecological nation” is a sham”.
These votes are not intended to become laws immediately, but the European Commission could take inspiration from them. She is due to unveil an action plan for marine and fisheries conservation in the spring.
Updated at 7:50 p.m. with the rectification of the votes of MEPs LREM Pascal Canfin and Stéphane Séjourné.