In the European Union, 86% of marine areas are not effective

More than 80% of marine protected areas in the European Union are not effective, according to a study published in the journal One Earth this week. The European Union has committed to protecting 30% of its seas and 10% strictly by 2030. But for now, destructive human activities continue, researchers warn.

Currently, only 11.4% of the European Union’s seas, or just over 610,000 km², have the status of marine protected areas.

This is still far from the target of 30% to be achieved within six years, but above all, it is their level of protection which leaves something to be desired.

Also readZimbabwe plans to cull 200 elephants, meat to be distributed to population

The researchers have in fact estimated that in 86% of cases, destructive human activities continue, whether it be mining or deep-sea trawling, a fishing technique which consists of scraping the seabed and collecting everything in its path to the detriment of biodiversity.

Finally, only 1.5% of marine areas are actually protected and help preserve nature according to the researchers. The Baltic Sea fares best, with 3% of strictly protected areas, compared to only 1% for the Northeast Atlantic Ocean. And in the Black Sea… they found none.

- RFI