The General Court of the European Union has ruled that Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) must be properly protected from fishing practices such as bottom trawling.
New regulations had been adopted on 8th December 2022, providing stronger levels of protection. However, the German fishing association VDK hoped to overturn the new measures in several German MPAs. On 21st May 2025, the court dismissed the legal challenge.
Conservation groups welcome the ruling
ClientEarth senior lawyer John Condon commented on the ruling saying:
“The European Court’s rejection of the lawsuit against protective measures in the North Sea is a critical victory for marine conservation. Science-backed bans on destructive bottom trawling must be the rule in all protected areas – without exception. Only then can we safeguard Europe’s marine biodiversity for generations to come and provide a sustainable future for fishers and coastal communities.