<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/03/auditors-slam-eu-for-marine-protected-areas-that-fail-to-protect-ocean>
"Europe’s marine protected areas (MPAs), set up to prevent biodiversity
loss at sea, are failing to protect the oceans according to an
excoriating report from auditors.
Examining actions to protect marine life over the past decade, the
European court of auditors raised a “red flag” warning the EU had failed
to halt marine biodiversity loss in Europe’s waters and restore fishing
to sustainable levels.
Its report concluded there had been “no meaningful signs of progress” in
the Mediterranean, the most overfished sea in the world, where the
report said fishing is now at twice the sustainable level.
The news follows Guardian Seascape revelations on the so-called “paper
parks” that marine conservationists say allow bottom trawling and other
activities harmful to vulnerable marine habitats.
The report’s findings echoed a recent assessment by the European
Environment Agency (EEA), which found fewer than 1% of European MPAs
were fully protected by fishing bans, and urged better management of
protected areas.
The auditors, who visited Italy, Spain, Portugal and France, found these
states had used only 6% of a €6bn (£5.42bn) European Maritime and
Fisheries Fund aimed at supporting environmental protection."
Via Glyn Moody, who wrote "major failure by EU here…"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
