Press release - September 29, 2006
Brussels, Belgium — The European Commission statement published today on measures to protect deep-sea ecosystems from
destructive fishing practices, including high seas bottom trawling, is inadequate and falls far behind international
momentum on the issue.
"The Commission's proposal would do little to protect deep-sea life in unregulated and uncharted areas, which comprise most of the Earth's ocean surface. It also shows far less resolve to tackle this problem than other proposals tabled to the United Nations meeting next week," says Saskia Richartz Greenpeace EU Marine Policy Director in Brussels.
A growing number of countries, including Australia, Brazil, Palau and individual EU member states such as the UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Sweden and Denmark, are calling for an immediate moratorium on high seas bottom trawling.
"The EU Commission needs to heed the advice of scientists: too little is known at present about the location of vulnerable habitats for these to be protected on a case-by-case basis. An interim prohibition on all high seas bottom trawling is the only immediately effective measure to halt the destruction of deep-sea habitats, and should only be lifted in areas where it can be shown that bottom trawling does not cause damage," added Richartz.
Other contacts:
Saskia Richartz, Greenpeace European Unit, tel +32 (0)2 274 1902 or +32 (0)495 290028
Notes:
See European Commission press release: ‘Commission calls for effective international action against destructive deep sea fishing practices’ (29/09/2006, IP/06/1291)