Ban on Bottom Trawling in Marine Protected Areas – But with Exceptions

From July 1 next year, bottom trawling in Sweden will be prohibited in marine protected areas located within the trawling limit. However, the Swedish government on the same time open up the possibility of exemptions from the rule.

The ban covers all marine national parks, nature reserves, biotope protection areas, and Natura 2000 areas located within the Swedish trawling limit—12 nautical miles from the coast.

“Protecting sensitive seas is important to the government, and bottom trawling can affect the marine environment in several ways. That is why we are now making these changes to the fishing regulations,” says Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren.

Despite this, the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management has been given a year to review the possibilities for exemptions from the ban in certain protected areas. This can be done if, as stated, “it does not counteract the purpose of the protection or” if there are scientific or other special reasons for doing so.

Critics say that this is a step in the right direction but still too limited, and that the possibility of granting
exemptions makes the law somewhat toothless.

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