Dutch Court Strengthens Ocean Protection

A Dutch court has ruled that bottom trawling in the protected Dogger Bank area must undergo environmental assessment before permits can be granted, strengthening marine conservation in the Netherlands.

“This ruling increases the chance for nature to show how resilient it is – a chance for the Dogger Bank to become a rich area for marine life once again,” said Karel van den Wijngaard, programme leader for the North Sea at ARK Rewilding Nederland.

The District Court of The Hague found that blanket exemptions allowing Dutch trawlers to operate without permits in the Natura 2000 protected zone were unlawful. The Dogger Bank, one of the North Sea’s most biodiverse seabeds, supports sharks, rays, corals and shellfish while helping store carbon. The decision follows more than 20 years of campaigning. It is expected to influence similar legal cases in France, Spain, Italy, Sweden and Germany, increasing pressure across Europe to protect marine ecosystems from destructive fishing practices.