Denmark moves to ban bottom trawling

The Danish government proposes to prohibit bottom trawling by Danish fishermen, although the ban only applies to Danish fishers, leaving a loophole for EU fishermen from other countries to continue this practice in Danish waters. Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Jacob Jensen announced that this is a step towards a healthier marine environment and promised to work tirelessly for a Europe-wide solution. However, the ban excludes vessels predominantly fishing for shrimp. Environmental organizations criticize bottom trawling for damaging the seabed and ecosystems. The Danish Fishermen’s Association indicates that the ban would only impact one Danish trawler, raising expectations for compensation. Due to EU regulations, Denmark cannot restrict foreign EU fishers from bottom trawling in its waters. Skepticism remains about getting EU support for a wider ban, especially from countries with significant bottom trawling industries like the Netherlands and Belgium.