Four months before the Global Ocean Summit in Nice, several environmental organizations, including Bloom, Seas at Risk, and the Tara Foundation, have called on French President Emmanuel Macron to intensify efforts to protect marine ecosystems. In an open letter published on February 4, they demand:
Strict protection for at least 10% of French waters
A ban on bottom trawling in marine protected areas
The Devastating Impact of Bottom Trawling
NGOs warn that bottom trawling severely damages marine ecosystems, threatening biodiversity even in protected areas. They emphasize the need for a comprehensive approach to ocean conservation, which includes:
🔹 Combating destructive industrial fishing practices
🔹 Opposing offshore hydrocarbon extraction
Political Pressure Ahead of the Summit
The letter is also addressed to EU Fisheries Commissioner Costas Kadis. Environmental advocates express concerns that the Nice summit may fail to deliver meaningful action unless leaders take urgent and ambitious steps.
NGOs insist that ocean protection must be a top priority for France and the EU, especially in the lead-up to the UN Ocean Conference. They are calling for bold commitments to ensure that marine conservation moves beyond promises and into real action.
The ocean is our shared home. Now is the time to truly protect it.