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German shrimp fishermen protest over Commission ban on bottom-fishing
German fishermen protested in Büsum, Germany for three days over the European Commission’s plans to ban bottom -fishing in 30 percent of EU member states waters.
The European Commission has proposed to ban bottom trawls in marine protected areas by 2030 in order to protect the sea bottom for carbon storage and marine conservation reasons. Many German fishermen, just like in other EU Member States, fear for their future if the ban comes into effect. This fear caused the fishermen to go out and protest to coincide the conference of German Agriculture Ministers which was being held in Büsum.
Last Tuesday 21 March, EU fisheries organisation met and unanimously called for an end to the Commission’s plan, with the European Bottom Fishing Alliance (EBFA), European Association of Fish Producers Organisation (EAPO) and Europêche saying that the prohibition on bottom mobile gears as disproportionate, unjustified, not based on available science and not contrary to international commitments.
The city of Büsum was wakened on Thursday morning to a sea of flashing blue lights with police arriving to maintain order in the North Sea port as protestors began to arrive.
The fishermen protesting in Büsum were mainly shrimp fishermen who were joined by hundreds of farmers who were saying that enough is enough when is comes to the Green Deal. If the ban comes into effect in the Wadden Sea National Park, it will be the end of fishing, according to German and Dutch fishermen who share the area.
At the last press conference in Büsum, the Agriculture Ministers of the Federal and State Governments unanimously opposed a blanket ban. Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) was pleased that those responsible for the ministries had committed “to fight in Brussels against a general trawling ban and therefore show support for the German shrimp fishery.”
“It is not only about an economic existence, but also about tradition, tourism and homeland,” said the Minister. “Our fishing in Germany is the livelihood of many people on the coast and also ensures added value in rural regions that goes far beyond fishing.”
Källa: The Fishing Daily