A groundbreaking study released today has revealed that bottom trawling in European waters incurs costs of up to €10.8 billion annually, primarily due to carbon emissions generated from disturbed seabed sediments. This research represents the first comprehensive evaluation of the economic impact of bottom trawling across Europe.
Significant economic costs
According to Enric Sala, National Geographic Explorer in Residence and one of the report’s authors, the practice of bottom trawling—where extensive nets are dragged across the seafloor—results in carbon dioxide emissions comparable to those of global aviation. “Half of these underwater emissions will ultimately reach the atmosphere,” Sala explained.
Environmental impact
Despite the fishing industry’s claims about the societal benefits of bottom trawling, such as job creation and economic revenue, the study indicates that these advantages pale in comparison to the significant environmental and climate costs incurred. The report estimates that annual costs associated with bottom trawling range from €330 million to €10.8 billion across the EU, UK, Norway, and Iceland.
While bottom trawling does support jobs and provides food, the research team emphasised that the environmental impacts and the negative effects on small-scale fishermen outweigh these benefits. They argue that prohibiting bottom trawling in marine protected areas (MPAs) would benefit marine life, the climate, and the fishing industry, a sentiment echoed by many fishermen.
Support for sustainable fishing
Hugo Tagholm, executive director of Oceana UK, stated, “Small-scale, sustainable fishers are seeing their livelihoods eroded alongside the reefs and seagrass meadows that are destroyed by weighted nets.” Bally Philp, national coordinator for the Scottish Creel Fishermen’s Federation, added that banning bottom trawling could double the number of fishers and revenue without increasing fish catch.
The study also highlighted a troubling trend: European governments allocate roughly €1.3 billion annually in subsidies for bottom trawling, almost equal to the economic value of the jobs created in this sector. Many researchers found that bottom trawling would not be profitable for the companies involved without these financial aids.
Subsidy concerns
“The society always loses to industry when it comes to bottom trawling,” Sala remarked. “Citizens are bearing the cost of government subsidies funded by taxpayers’ money.”
In France, the NGO BLOOM has noted that approximately 800 bottom trawling vessels damage around 670,000 square kilometres of seabed each year—an area larger than France itself. Despite this, President Emmanuel Macron is convening the SOS Ocean summit in March to discuss sustainable practices in the fishing industry.
Legal actions pending
As a coalition of civil society organisations calls for a ban on bottom trawling in MPAs, where around 13% of Europe’s bottom trawling occurs, the study aligns with ongoing efforts to phase out destructive fishing practices. EU member states are expected to phase out bottom trawling in MPAs by 2030, but progress has been slow, with only Greece and Sweden announcing bans or restrictions.
Environmental lawyers have expressed concern, pointing to the failure of most EU countries to submit comprehensive plans to protect their MPAs from bottom trawling as mandated by EU nature laws. As a result, marine NGOs are preparing legal action against several European nations for non-compliance.
Source : euronews
