Greece is leading Europe in banning bottom trawling, says a new study published in National Geographic.
Bottom trawling is a fishing practice that involves dragging heavy, weighted nets across the ocean floor, and has long been a subject of intense environmental scrutiny.
While it is an efficient way to capture high volumes of seafood, its collateral damage to marine ecosystems and the climate has recently prompted a significant shift in European policy.
The study has quantified the heavy price society pays for this practice. The research reveals that bottom trawling in European waters incurs costs of up to €16 billion annually.
A primary driver of this staggering figure is the climate impact. By disturbing the seabed, trawling releases carbon sequestered in marine sediments, thereby exacerbating global warming. These economic and environmental costs underscore the urgent need for a transition toward more sustainable fishing methods.
Greece to enforce a complete ban on bottom trawling
In a proactive response to these ecological challenges, Greece made headlines in April 2024 by announcing a major policy shift. During the “Our Ocean” conference held in Athens, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced that Greece would become the first country in Europe to ban bottom trawling in all of its Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
This ambitious initiative is set to be implemented in stages: bottom trawling will be prohibited in the nation’s three existing national marine parks by 2026, with a complete ban across all Greek MPAs to follow by 2030.
To ensure the effectiveness of this policy, the Greek government has committed €780 million to protecting its unique marine ecosystems, which include critical habitats for endangered species such as the Mediterranean monk seal and various cetaceans. Furthermore, the plan includes deploying advanced surveillance technology, such as drones, to enforce the new regulations.
The Greek move has been widely praised by conservationists, who view it as a potential “domino effect” for the rest of the European Union. By taking this decisive step, Greece is signaling a fundamental change in how coastal nations manage their relationship with the ocean—moving away from extractive practices that come at a high cost to the planet and toward a model that prioritizes long-term ecological and economic health.
Safequarding Greek Seas
In response to the study, Kyriakos Mitsotakis said:
“By moving to phase out bottom trawling across all Greek Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), Greece is taking decisive action to restore marine ecosystems, support sustainable fisheries and safeguard the long-term health of our seas. It is the most effective way to implement the two major Marine Parks in the Aegean and Ionian Seas, bringing Greece closer to exceeding the 30×30 target.”
“It would represent a transformative step in safeguarding Posidonia seagrass beds, and other vulnerable habitats, enhance carbon sequestration, support the rapid recovery of fish stocks, and generate positive spillover effects into surrounding waters. In doing so, it would serve both biodiversity conservation and the long-term interests of fishers and local communities, strengthening the resilience and sustainability of the blue economy in Greece’s coastal regions.”
The research follows galvanizing footage of bottom trawling in the documentary OCEAN by David Attenborough and comes as conservation groups increase pressure on European governments to ban bottom trawling. So far, only Greece and Sweden have banned bottom trawling in MPAs.
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