European Commission invites comments on draft amendments to State aid rules with respect to access to justice in environmental matters

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) and France Nature Environnement (FNE) are have issued a claim in France to address bottom trawling in Natura 2000 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). They argue that France is failing to protect marine environments, thereby violating both French and EU laws. The lawsuits specifically target Chausey MPA and Bancs des Flandres MPA, aiming to enforce stricter environmental protection measures.

The Chausey and Bancs des Flandres SACs in the English Channel are protected for their vital sandbanks and maerl banks, which serve as nurseries for marine fauna. Bottom trawling, the practice of dragging weighted nets across the seabed, destroys these habitats in MPAs. Despite its harmful impact, bottom trawling continues in 77% of France's marine Natura 2000 sites, violating national and EU environmental laws. The suit claims that over the past five years, French MPAs have seen about 200,000 hours of trawling annually.

The NGOs argue that this lawsuit supports the EU's 2030 Biodiversity Strategy and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which aim to protect 30% of Europe's maritime space by 2030. It seeks to align France with the EU's Marine Environment Action Plan, requiring a ban on mobile bottom fishing in all Natura 2000 sites by March 2024 and phasing out in marine protected areas by 2030. Ahead of the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, this lawsuit seeks to urge France to meet ocean conservation goals.

With appreciation to Amineh Farasatmand for her contribution in preparing this blog.