Appalling details about bottom trawling in the Netherlands: a report from Stellendam and Den Helder documents the decline of the industry and profound environmental degradation. Our team recently travelled in the Netherlands. The situation regarding bottom trawling presents a highly ambivalent picture. We have previously reported on the distressing conditions in Den Helder, north of Amsterdam, and on the island of Texel. A similar scene is now visible in Stellendam, the fishing port south of Rotterdam: the inner harbour hosts dozens of rusting bottom trawlers. According to local fishers, these vessels are slated for decommissioning or for resale abroad (specifically to countries within and outside the European Union). The economic decline of the Dutch bottom trawling sector is evident. This downturn is partly self-inflicted: Brexit, with its resulting restrictions on EU waters, and high energy costs have played a significant role. However, the depletion of fish stocks due to decades of intensive overfishing remains the primary driver of falling yields. Meanwhile, around the outer harbour of Stellendam, "business as usual" continues for the remaining fleet. These vessels continue to use dolly ropes extensively and operate between marine protected areas and seal banks, with severe ecological consequences. Lost and discarded nets drift through the oceans. Over many years, they disintegrate into microplastics, representing one of the major threats to marine ecosystems. Prior to fragmentation, they pose a daily hazard to marine fauna, which have not evolved to cope with plastic pollution. Over the past year, the average number of entanglements involving grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) and harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in the Netherlands stood at approximately 40 registered, trapped individuals. This data is provided by the three seal rescue centres Pieterburen, Ecomare, and Aseal, which work to rescue these animals. In 2010, 8 incidents were reported; by 2020, this reached 35 – a fourfold increase. In the first five months of 2024, over 50 cases have already been reported, exceeding the total for the entire previous year. A linear extrapolation suggests well over 100 animals will be affected in 2024. Species characteristics play a role here: Halichoerus grypus inhabit the sandbanks in high numbers and are highly curious and playful. They frequently investigate objects, including brightly coloured nets or debris discarded on beaches that enters the sea. However, tourism on beaches accounts for only a minor share of 12% of the cases: 88% of entanglements are caused by commercial fishing nets, lines, and hooks. The specialized Seal Response Team, established by Pieterburen, Ecomare, and Aseal, captures, frees, and, if necessary, treats the entangled animals. The fundamental problem remains bottom trawling. In addition to the severe damage these nets cause to the seabed, as well as bycatch and plastic pollution – primarily driven by dolly ropes – the practice directly harms North Sea seal populations. Bottom trawling occurs in close proximity to the Dutch coast, with fishers operating right next to ostensibly protected seal banks; the vessels are so close they can be seen, heard, and smelled from the beach. Some nations are more advanced in marine conservation, such as Greece. In Greek marine national parks, bottom trawling will be prohibited starting in 2026, a measures recently decided by the Greek government. By 2030, this ban will apply to all marine protected areas in the country. Greece is thus the first nation to implement the European Commission's proposal to ban bottom trawling in all protected areas by 2030. While this is a step in the right direction, it conversely does not mean this unsustainable and ecologically destructive fishing method will be banned entirely. Instead, it is "only" excluded from protected areas, effectively stalling broader discussions on the topic as concession has been granted to conservationists – a tactic that wins time for lobbyists when a total victory is no longer possible. Currently, the weak status of marine protected areas still permits bottom trawling within their borders. Only genuine "no-take" zones offer real protection from fishing and human exploitation. These are virtually non-existent in the EU, with not a single one located in German North Sea or Baltic Sea waters. In 2023, the German Minister of Agriculture, Özdemir, capitulated following protests from Northern German shrimp fishers and rejected a ban on bottom trawling in German marine protected areas. The Ministry of the Environment holds a different view, given that, on paper, 47% of Germany's marine area is designated as protected. Consequently, while policymakers endorse the "30/30" target (30% of marine areas protected by 2030), they back down at the first protest from a minority. Robust policymaking should operate differently; elected representatives are accountable to the voting majority, not to well-organized, vocal special interest groups. From a marine conservation perspective, this situation is absurd. Fishers repeatedly invoke "tradition" in their arguments. This is not a persuasive sustainability argument, as many modern advancements have replaced outdated traditions for the better. It is time to break with ecologically destructive traditions. ElasmOcean advocates for a comprehensive ban on bottom trawling and deep-sea bottom trawling.
