'It's a relief': Mariners delighted with continued bottom fishing in protected areas

Maximilien Carlier, edited by Yanis Darras 08h23, 04 April 2023

After a week of dead operation, victory for the fishermen. Bottom fishing in marine protected areas will ultimately not be banned. A relief, especially in Boulogne-sur-Mer, where the movement was very followed.

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Then, after a week at the dock following the blockage, the Ophéléa returned to sea. On board, Mathieu, the shipowner, prepares traps, nets to catch sole and lobster. "It's a relief that Europe supports us," he told Europe 1. But "we had to bang on the table to say that we were finally supported", because otherwise, this measure would have made part of the fleet disappear, continues the sailor.

Too many rules

In total, a hundred boats would have had to be taken out of service in French waters to comply with the regulations. But for Olivier Leprêtre, the president of the fisheries committee in the region, "we can not call it a victory, because the economic context in fishing remains very complicated. We have fish, but we have so many rules and norms that hit us that it becomes hellish and unmanageable," he warns.

To this, are added "extremist NGOs", adds Olivier Leprêtre, these organizations that no longer want fishing according to the latter. "Let us work," he replies, assuring "that fishermen are there to feed the population, not to destroy the seabed."