Environmental NGOs Oceana and ClientEarth are filing a lawsuit in Spain’s national High Court to allow bottom trawling in marine protected areas (MPAs), a practice they claim violates EU conservation laws.

The lawsuit, filed in Spain’s national High Court, claims that Spain’s approval of this destructive fishing method threatens the fragile marine ecosystems of the Atlantic and Mediterranean, harming species such as turtles and dolphins.

“Bottom trawling is notorious for its destructive environmental impact on marine habitats. Heavy nets drag on the seabed to catch the marine species that live there and in doing so have a large bycatch of marine life including sharks, cold water corals, sponges. and other organisms This type of fishing also affects the ocean’s ability to store carbon,” the organizations said.

They point out that EU law prohibits such harmful activities in MPAs, but Spain has allowed trawling in designated protected areas.

“We are taking the matter to court to ensure that ‘protected’ really means ‘protected,'” said Francesco Maletto of ClientEarth, noting that these areas are critical for biodiversity and climate resilience.

Oceana’s Michael Sealey stressed the urgency for the European Commission to enforce conservation laws, calling for a 2030 ban on bottom trawling in all EU MPAs.

A court victory could set a crucial precedent for marine conservation in Europe, putting pressure on other member states to strengthen protection of vulnerable marine habitats, according to NGOs.

Last month, ClientEarth filed a separate lawsuit against France for allowing bottom trawling in Mediterranean MPAs. Oceana, ClientEarth and Seas At Risk are also supporting other legal cases in Germany and the Netherlands, as this problem crosses national borders and is systemic in European MPAs.

According to research by the two NGOs, over 80% of MPAs are ineffective as they offer only marginal protection against destructive industrial activities such as bottom trawling.

Greece and Sweden have announced that they will ban or strongly restrict bottom trawling in their marine protected areas, and the Scottish Government has proposed banning bottom trawling in 20 MPAs.