Experts Warn EU Marine Protected Areas Are Insufficient for Conservation
The European Union’s marine protected areas (MPAs) have been critiqued for offering inadequate protection against detrimental human activities, such as mining and bottom trawling. A recent scientific study published in the journal One Earth revealed that these MPAs are falling short of the EU’s ambition to safeguard 30% of its marine environment by 2030.
The study emphasizes that, for MPAs to deliver the expected ecological and social benefits, there needs to be a serious reevaluation of their role in regulating harmful activities. While 11.4% of EU waters were designated as MPAs in 2022, only a meager 1.5% of these areas received robust protection, meaning that only 0.2% of the total EU marine area is under stringent safeguards. Alarmingly, 86% of EU waters within MPAs are subject to minimal or no protection from the most harmful practices, including dredging, mining, and the use of destructive fishing gear.
Countries like Germany, France, and Belgium report the highest levels of MPA coverage—45.3%, 38.9%, and 37.9% of their respective national waters—while nations such as Ireland, Portugal, Greece, and Slovenia show significantly lower coverage, ranging from 2.4% to 5.1%. The Mediterranean and Baltic Seas demonstrate a greater extent of strong protection compared to the North-East Atlantic, with no such strong protections found in the Black Sea.
Scientists attribute these findings to the lenient nature of the EU’s existing directives governing MPAs, including the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and the Birds and Habitats Directives. The voluntary guidelines set out by other international agreements, such as the Regional Seas Conventions and the Aichi Targets, have also contributed to the insufficient levels of protection observed.
Despite these challenges, the European Commission acknowledges the need for rigorous management of MPAs and encourages member states to comply with legislation aimed at biodiversity conservation. The Commission’s 2023 EU Marine Action Plan calls for actions like phasing out mobile bottom fishing in MPAs by 2030. However, this proposal was rejected earlier this year, and reports show that bottom fishing continues in 90% of MPAs.
The emphasis now rests with individual member states to tackle threats to marine ecosystems, with a strong focus on implementing effective management strategies for MPAs to achieve the EU’s conservation goals.
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John Peterson graduated with a degree in Agricultural Sciences from Wageningen University in the Netherlands. His specialization is in sustainable crop production and soil health management. John is passionate about integrating modern technology with traditional farming methods to enhance productivity while preserving the environment. He currently works as a consultant, helping farmers adopt sustainable practices.