The majority of EU citizens want political leaders to prioritise ocean protection – A recent poll conducted by Sapience on behalf of Oceana Europe and Seas at Risk revealed that most EU citizens want political leaders to prioritise ocean protection and ban trawling in marine protected areas (MPAs). These results show a significant gap between European public opinion on the protection of the marine environment and the current reality.
According to the paper, almost 9 out of 10 citizens (86%) surveyed in seven EU countries (Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and Germany) expect their political leaders to put the protection of marine biodiversity first. In addition, 97 per cent of respondents consider it essential to safeguard endangered marine species, 96 per cent stress the importance of protecting marine habitats, and 93 per cent believe it is crucial to stop overfishing.
90% of citizens believe that MPAs are necessary to conserve marine biodiversity
Across the seven countries surveyed, 82% of respondents believe in stricter regulation of bottom trawling, with support ranging from 75% in the Netherlands to 93% in Portugal. In addition, 73% of citizens support a ban on trawling in EU MPAs.
A report published by Oceana, Seas At Risk and the Marine Conservation Society showed that trawling continues to devastate habitats and species in the EU’s offshore MPAs. Between 2015 and 2023, 4.4 million hours of trawling took place in the MPAs of the seven countries surveyed, threatening the biodiversity that these areas are supposed to protect.
Government reaction and future action
The announcements by the Greek and Swedish governments to ban trawling in MPAs, coupled with strong public support for stricter marine protection, should trigger a positive trend towards concrete action in the new EU policy cycle. The need for stricter legislation is clear, with greater awareness of MPAs corresponding to greater support for stricter measures.
Protecting the oceans is an urgent priority for European citizens. New EU policies should reflect this need, implementing measures that ban destructive fishing in MPAs and promote marine sustainability. These actions not only preserve the environment, but also support the communities that depend on the oceans, including fishermen.
The majority of EU citizens want political leaders to prioritise ocean protection
