News item | 16-02-2023 | 13:08
From March 8, 2023, three nature areas in the Dutch North Sea will be closed to bottom-disturbing fishing. This concerns the Frisian Front and Central Oyster Grounds protected areas under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the Klaverbank Habitats Directive area. In addition, the Frisian Front Birds Directive Area will be closed from March 8, 2023 to fishing with gill nets and entangling nets (with a few exceptions) from June 1 to November 30 each year. The regulation was adopted by the European Commission as part of the Common Fisheries Policy and is intended to protect the vulnerable natural areas at sea.
Protection of natural areas
In total, approximately 2,700 km2 of the seabed is protected by the regulation, which means there is a greater chance of nature recovery. This is about 5% of the total Dutch North Sea, an area almost as large as the province of Drenthe. In addition, approximately 2,900 km2 will be closed to gill and entanglement fishing in the Frisian Front Birds Directive Area to protect guillemots. This is also about 5% of the total Dutch North Sea, but this area partly overlaps with the area that is closed to bottom-disturbing fisheries.
Decision making process
The basis of the new legislation is, among other things, a Dutch proposal that has been worked on for more than 10 years. The decision was preceded by a careful and lengthy process. Coordination has taken place with the fisheries organizations and nature and environmental organisations. The proposal has also been shared and discussed with all parties involved, including in the North Sea consultations, the Scheveningen Group, NSAC (North Sea Advisory Council), and the European Commission.
Fisheries measures
In response to a German proposal, the European regulation also includes fishing measures in German nature reserves. From 8 March it is prohibited for fishing vessels to sail in (parts of) Sylter Aussenriff, Borkum-Riffgrundand Ostliche Deutsche Bucht fishing with bottom-disturbing gear. In addition, it is in (parts of) Sylter Aussenriff and Ostliche Deutsche Bucht fishing with gill nets and entangling nets is prohibited. It is also in (parts of) Sylter Aussenriff No fishing at all. also look at the details of the regulation.
Enforcement
The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority will monitor and enforce the Dutch measures described above. In the regulation specifications such as coordinates are also available.