Appeal

Urge the EU Commission to Ban Destructive Fishing in Protected Waters

71,779 signatures. Let’s get to 75K
with Oceana and Seas at Risk

What You Need to Know

Bottom trawling is one of the world’s most destructive fishing practices. By dragging weighted nets along the ocean floor — some up to 240 meters wide — bottom trawling devastates coastal habitats, kills marine life indiscriminately, and depletes fish stocks. Just as bulldozing a forest destroys an ecosystem that has taken centuries to grow, bottom trawling decimates the seabed in a single motion, scraping up coral reefs and any other life in its path. 

Shockingly, bottom trawling is still permitted in some of Europe’s most fragile underwater ecosystems even though they have been designated as marine protected areas (MPAs). 

Explore where bottom trawling is damaging Europe’s protected waters

Map

What’s the Issue?

Bottom trawling is responsible for more than 90% of discarded fish in the EU and accidentally ensnared and killed turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals. This harmful practice not only threatens Europe’s fish stocks but also the livelihoods of low-impact fishers and fisheries across the continent. In the Mediterranean, for example, 58% of all fish stocks remain overfished, largely because of bottom trawling, which makes it nearly impossible for low-impact fishers to keep up. By banning bottom trawling in MPAs as a starting point, marine life can recover, and we can preserve the low-impact fishing traditions that many communities depend on.

Bottom trawling is a destructive fishing practice that drags heavy nets across the ocean floor · Greenpeace
Dragged nets crush, tear up, and entangle delicate reefs, destroying natural habitats
The nets can accidentally trap turtles, dolphins, and other marine life, leaving them to die · Greenpeace
Bottom trawling gear is responsible for 93% of reported discards in the EU (1 million tonnes between 2015-2019) · Greenpeace
Low-impact fishing is more sustainable, but bottom trawlers exploit and deplete fish stocks, leaving little for local fishers

Campaign goals

We’re urging the European Commission to take action. It has the power to: 

Hold leaders accountable

Oversee the EU Marine Action Plan, which calls on EU Members to submit roadmaps to ban bottom trawling in protected waters.

Support fishers

Promote sustainable fisheries and fishing practices that support marine conservation efforts.

Protect MPAs

Strengthen the management and enforcement of existing marine protected areas.

Why your voice matters

Public pressure can drive change. By raising our voices together, we can demonstrate public demand for immediate action to protect the ocean. Your support is critical in safeguarding marine ecosystems for future generations, ensuring sustainable fisheries, and promoting biodiversity.

Cover Photo: Umeed Mistry | Ocean Image Bank

Learn more about this campaign

Join the Movement to Ban Bottom Trawling in Europe’s Protected Waters

Campaign
Supporters
Tracy F

we need to consider the impact we are having on protected waters

15 hours ago
Jessica C

I am signing because we need to protect our innocent animals from abuse and extinction

17 hours ago
jenna h

The oceans sustain us, if we are responsible and only take what we need and protect certain areas, animals and biodiversity will thrive alongside us.…

1 day ago
Jaleh H

once again folks are doing it wrong , take to much there hurting the environment while there doing it . there has to be a better practice. you don't…

1 day ago
Frances C

i am in New Zealand in the Pacific whre destructive fishing practice is at it worst - bottom trawling and reversing improvements fought for very rece…

4 days ago
Dianne L

because if the ocean dies, so do we all!!

5 days ago
Katie M

We need to preserve our marine life and habitats before its too late

1 week ago
Catherine B

I am against trawling, we all know we need to change the way we operate in order to help the planet

1 week ago
Sabrina C

I am blessed to have the heart to care.

1 week ago
Joyce R

THE SENSLESS KILLING OF ALL THE MAMMALS FISH AND ANIMALS IS SO EVIL WRONG WE ARE STARVING OUR PLANET AND WATERS BECAUSE OF IRRISPONSIBLE FISHISHING N…

1 week ago
Sam Z

The sea is protected. Stop your stupidity and give-a-damn.

1 week ago
Linda M

I care about animals and their welfare. It seems like we need to do more to protect them.

1 week ago
Heidi B

because we need to leave nature alone qnd respect all creatures

1 week ago
Daria R

I don't want to live on a planet with a dead ocean.

1 week ago
Anthony P

WHY ARE OUR PROTECTED WATERS BEING DESTRUCTIVELY FISHES FOR PROFIT. PROTECT OUR WATERS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS YOU GREEDY CAPITALISTS

1 week ago
Teresa H

I care about ocean life and the part it plays in the ecological balance of nature.

2 weeks ago
Sonja R

so many reasons and you know them all!

2 weeks ago
Ethan N

All of the sea creatures no matter any waters deserve thier world to cleaned and made safe for all the life. People need to awaken and start thinking…

2 weeks ago
Gabrielle I

This earth is owned by all of us, all peoples, in whatever form, and up to us to take carre of our Home..

2 weeks ago
Cindy B

All lives are important in maintaining or rebalancing our ecosystem often in almost impercievable and sometimes unexpected ways.

2 weeks ago
Steve H

I am signing because OCEAN should be healthy and free of human-made destruction

2 weeks ago
Vivian S

We depend on mother Gaia to survive, yet we are killing her each day by the destructive things we do through ignorance and greed!

2 weeks ago
Anthony J

i want to see an improvment in our enviroment and not the damaged being caused by non caring people and countries

2 weeks ago
Khin Myat N

it’s not fair what these kinds of practices are affecting to these poor animals in the ocean

2 weeks ago
Jeff A

every aid to nature is needed at this time of climate change and disruption to ecosystems

2 weeks ago
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May 8, 2023
Article

We work with over 60 world-class experts and partners.

Informed by a diverse roster of experts across multiple disciplines, our work is always in partnership with other non-profits and often takes place at the crucial eleventh hour — after years, or even decades, of work by others in the sector and beyond. We couldn’t be more grateful for the guidance and leadership of these experts and our partners.

Featured experts

Jennifer Howard

Vice President of Conservation International, Board Member of Only One

A leading international scientist, Jennifer focuses on implementing scalable mechanisms to conserve ocean ecosystems as a means to protect vulnerable coastal communities, combat climate change, and conserve biodiversity.

Angelique Pouponneau

Policy & Strategy Advisor to the Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States

A lawyer and ocean and climate advisor in the Seychelles, Angelique holds an LLM in Environmental Law specializing in the law of the sea and natural resources. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Law and is a policy and strategy advisor on ocean and climate matters to the Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States.

Inka Cresswell

Wildlife Filmmaker, Marine Biologist, Social Influencer

Fighting to change the way we interact with the natural world, Inka’s award-winning work educates and inspires a new generation of conservationists, arming them with the tools they need to spread awareness and drive real impact for the planet.

John Weller

Photographer, Writer, Filmmaker, Senior Fellow of Only One

An acclaimed photographer, filmmaker, and writer, John has worked in defense of the ocean for nearly 20 years. He helped lead the global campaign to secure the world’s largest marine protected area in the Ross Sea, Antarctica.

Kalina Grabb

Sea Grant Knauss Fellow in Marine Policy at the NOAA Ocean Acidification Program, Ph.D. from MIT-WHOI Joint Program

A chemical oceanographer who focuses on coral reef health and immunity, Kalina is passionate about using science to inspire, inform, and impact the conservation of our ocean and coastal communities.

Shawn Heinrichs

Photographer, Conservationist, Co-Founder of Only One

Fueled by his passion for the ocean, Shawn fuses dramatic imagery with intimate and thought-provoking stories to connect the global community to threatened marine species and habitats.

Sian Owen

Director of the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC)

Sian has led the global strategy and coalition coordination for the DSCC since 2011. Her role draws on decades of experience building and managing transcontinental, complex multi-disciplinary teams to deliver on global social, economic, and environmental policy goals.

Ted Janulis

Founder & Principal of Investable Oceans

Ted has served in various executive positions, including CEO, at financial institutions involved in capital markets, banking, and asset management over a 30+ year business career. The ocean has been one of Ted’s passions since he was young, including a life-changing year after graduating from college with the Our World-Underwater Scholarship Society.

Featured partners

  • Alfred Wegner Institute

  • Anatarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition

  • Avaaz

  • Becht Foundation

  • Beyond Plastics

  • Bloomberg Philanthrophies

  • Blue Nature Alliance

  • Blue Ventures

  • The Builders Initiative

  • Break Free From Plastic Coalition

  • Center for Biological Diversity

  • CleanHub

  • Common Seas

  • Comms Inc.

  • Conservation International

  • Coral Gardeners

  • Coral Vita

  • CREMA Costa Rica

  • Deep Sea Conservation Coalition

  • Eden Reforestation Projects

  • Environmental Advocates NY

  • Fins Attached

  • Galapagos Conservation Trust

  • Greenpeace

  • High Seas Alliance

  • Humane Society International

  • MAC3 Impact Philanthrophies

  • Malpelo Colombia

  • Marine Conservation Institute

  • Migramar

  • Mission Blue

  • National Ocean Protection Coalition

  • Oceana

  • Ocean Unite

  • Oceans 5

  • Operation Rich Coast

  • Oxygen Project

  • Pacific Remote Islands Coalition

  • PADI

  • The Pew Charitable Trusts

  • Plastics For Change

  • Plastic Solutions Fund

  • Pretoma

  • Rare

  • RISE UP

  • Rob Stewart Sharkwater Foundation

  • Seas at Risk

  • Seaspiracy

  • Shark Conservation Fund

  • Shark Stewards

  • Stand For Trees

  • Stop Finning EU

  • Sungai Watch

  • Surfrider Foundation

  • Sustainable Ocean Alliance

  • The Leatherback Project

  • Unidos Por Los Tiburones

  • United Conservationists

  • Unless

  • Waterbear

  • Wetlands International

  • Whale and Dolphin Conservancy

  • Wildlife Conservation Society

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