The government is aiming to ban the use of bottom trawling for Danish fishermen in Danish waters, while the same technique will still be allowed for foreign fishermen from other EU countries. In a press release, Minister for Food, Agriculture, and Fisheries, Jacob Jensen (V), stated that the measure is part of a broader strategy to improve the marine environment. Bottom trawling is a fishing method that has been criticized by environmental organizations, as the technique is known to destroy the seabed and harm the marine ecosystem. The prohibition aims to protect this environment.
The Danish Fisheries Association has stated that the national ban will only affect one Danish vessel. However, the government cannot regulate the use of bottom trawling by foreign fishermen in Danish waters, which means that fishermen from countries such as Holland or Belgium will still be able to use this fishing method in Denmark. Jacob Jensen emphasizes that the proposal for a ban for Danish fishermen is an important first step towards a broader European solution. “We cannot alone make rules that prohibit bottom trawling for vessels from other countries, even if they fish in Danish waters. That is why we are now taking the first important step towards a future fishing without bottom trawling,” said Jacob Jensen in the statement. The minister does not specify exactly how many Danish fishermen will be affected by the new ban, but notes that the proposal does not include vessels that primarily fish for horse mackerel.