Environmental NGOs Oceana and ClientEarth are filing a lawsuit with Spain's national high court for permitting bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), a practice they claim violates EU conservation laws.

The lawsuit, filed in Spain's national high court, argues that Spain's allowance of this destructive fishing method threatens fragile marine ecosystems in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, harming species such as loggerhead turtles and bottlenose dolphins.

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

They stress that EU law prohibits such harmful activities in MPAs, yet Spain has allowed trawling in designated protected areas.

"We're taking the issue to court to ensure that 'protected' truly means 'protected,'" pointed out ClientEarth's Francesco Maletto, highlighting that these areas are essential for biodiversity and climate resilience.

Oceana's Michael Sealey emphasized 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 across Europe, pressuring other member states to strengthen protections for vulnerable marine habitats, according to the NGOs.

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

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

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