Governments not doing enough to protect the marine environment, say Europe's coastal communities in new research

People who live on or near the European coast say they are experiencing a marked decline in the marine environment but just one in three (36%) believe that their government is doing enough to protect the ocean. 

New research from environmental law organisation ClientEarth, undertaken across nine coastal European countries, found that nearly half (46%) of those living alongside the ocean believe the marine environment is in worse shape now than it was 10 years ago1, and more believe this decline will continue than say it will improve.2 

Almost half (49%) say they think de-prioritisation of marine protection is at the core of government inaction. Two-fifths (40%) of those included in the study in Europe believe that a lack of budget for enforcement is preventing effective action on marine protection.  

People who live on the coast and work in ocean related sectors are under no illusion that laws must be enforced to effectively tackle harmful activity. Luis Rodríguez, a small-scale Spanish fisherman in a Spanish Marine Protected Area (MPA) said: “If you protect an area and don't monitor it, what you're really protecting are the rule-breakers.”. 

ClientEarth’s research also reflects the perception that environmentally damaging activity across Europe’s coast and marine environment is on the rise. According to the survey, people who live along Europe’s coast were more likely to say illegal and harmful activities are getting worse rather than better,3 including trash dumping and the release of pollutants and sewage into water, and a quarter (26%) of people in the study say they have personally witnessed harmful activity taking place in their local marine environment. Alarmingly, in a separate study of the fishing industry, seven in ten (71%) respondents reported that they believe illegal practices occur in the sector. 

The marine degradation witnessed by those surveyed is stark. Almost half (47%) of those in the study say the number of fish and marine animals is declining in their local coastal and marine environment, along with marine mammals (35%), marine plants (40%) and seabirds (34%). 

In the fishing industry survey, ClientEarth’s research found that an overwhelming majority (85%) believe that a decline in the marine environment would impact their industry, and almost one in two (47%) feel that environmental regulation is necessary. 

This research is being released on the first anniversary of the European Ocean Pact and the announcement of the EU Ocean Act before the 3rd UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice, France. The Pact included a specific focus on restoring ocean health and protecting coastal communities from the impact of marine degradation. At the same time, a pledge of €1bn was made by the European Commission to protect marine life and enhance the blue economy. 

ClientEarth and its partners have consistently put European decision-makers on notice that they have a legal responsibility to protect the ocean. This has included applying pressure on the UK government to commit to greater transparency in the fishing industry in order to combat illegal, unregulated and unreported activity and, in Europe, a stream of litigation over bottom trawling in protected zones – including France, Spain, and the Netherlands - as well as two complaints to the European Commission. 

Laura Clarke, CEO ClientEarth said: “Our ocean is in a terrifying decline. Across Europe, millions of people rely on healthy marine environments. One year ago, at the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC), heads of state and government from across Europe made new pledges to protect marine areas, safeguard the High Seas, tackle plastic pollution, and support a moratorium on deep-sea mining.  

“One year on, our research shows that coastal communities and the fishing industry have yet to see action on these commitments. This should serve as a wake-up call for governments to turn the tide and step up implementation and enforcement across Europe.” 

Anais Berthier, Head of ClientEarth Brussels, “In the context of the ongoing public consultation on the European Ocean Act, we renew our call for stronger implementation of existing laws and call on EU governments to provide clear, concrete plans for how they intend to meet their commitments to protect the ocean.” 

Across the channel, Kyle Lischak, Head of UK at ClientEarth said: “People in the UK care deeply about the state of our coastal and marine environment, but fewer than a third believe the government is doing enough to protect it. That is a damning review of the Government’s approach.”