World Oceans Day took place on Saturday June 8. For years, there have been marine protected areas, particularly in the Mediterranean Sea, but often the label is not enough to guarantee protection.
Take off towards the Mediterranean Sea. It doesn’t take long for a representative of an environmental defense association to spot marine protected areas. Trawlers scrape the seabed, completely legal fishing, but they are in a so-called protected marine area. “The government refuses to implement international scientific recommendations,” lamented Swann Bommier, head of advocacy for the Bloom association.
Strong protection areas represent 0.1% of the French Mediterranean Sea
According to a CNRS study, if 60% of the French Mediterranean Sea is covered by marine protected areas, the only places where fishing is prohibited are in strong protection zones, i.e. 0.1% of surface area to protect biodiversity. . Tracking down potential illegal fishing and banning certain practices in marine areas are challenges while the government is committed to achieving 5% strong protection in the Mediterranean Sea within 3 years.
