Nat Geo: Overfishing Creates Food Waste & US$18bn in Losses

Commercial fishing practices continue to face scrutiny over their financial viability. Bottom trawling operations across Europe could be costing society far more than the revenue they generate.

Now, in a new study, National Geographic has analysed multiple reports examining this crucial issue.

One, The Value of Bottom Trawling in Europe, written by Millage et al and first published by Science Direct, measures the full economic value of bottom trawling.

According to the paper, the destructive fishing method imposes up to €16bn (US$18.7bn) annually in net costs to society.

Economic costs exceed industry profits

The Value of Bottom Trawling in Europe, by Millage et al, measures the full economic value of the fishing method.

According to the paper, bottom trawling imposes up to €16bn (US$18.7bn) annually in net costs to society.

The research shows net costs to society are 90 times higher than the estimated €180m (US$210m) in profits accumulated by the fishing industry each year.

This calculation accounts for environmental damage and carbon emissions from seafloor disturbance.

Millage et al pooled data from more than 4,900 European-flagged bottom trawlers.

The vessels spend more than 5.5 million hours fishing on average each year in waters of the European Union, the UK, Norway and Iceland.

The paper was written due to increasing pressure on government and industry leaders across Europe to ban bottom trawling. Marine Protected Areas face particular concern.

“Our study makes it clear that bottom trawling in European waters is not just an environmental disaster, it’s an economic failure,” says Professor Enric Sala, National Geographic Explorer in Residence and one of the authors of the study, ​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌‌‍‌‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‍​‍​​​​‍‌‍‌​​‍‌​‍​​‌​‌​‍​​‍‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‍​​‍‌​‍​​‍​​‍‌‌‍‌‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‍​​‍‌​​‌‍‌‍​‍​​‍‌‌‍‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​​‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌‌‍​​​‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‍​​‍​​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‌‍​‍​​​​‍‌​‌‌‍​​‍​‌‍​‌​​​‌‍​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌‌‍‌‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‍​‍​​​​‍‌‍‌​​‍‌​‍​​‌​‌​‍​​‍‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‍​​‍‌​‍​​‍​​‍‌‌‍‌‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‍​​‍‌​​‌‍‌‍​‍​​‍‌‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​​‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌‌‍​​​‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‍​​‍​​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‌‍​‍​​​​‍‌​‌‌‍​​‍​‌‍​‌​​​‌‍​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍‌‌The value of bottom trawling in Europe.

“The bottom trawling fleet is decimating marine life in Europe’s marine protected areas, from the North Atlantic to the Mediterranean. 

“While we ultimately need to reduce bottom trawling across Europe’s waters to unlock societal benefits, banning it in protected areas is a critical first step, a win for the climate, the ocean and even the fishing industry itself.”​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌‌‍‌‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‍​‍​​​​‍‌‍‌​​‍‌​‍​​‌​‌​‍​​‍‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‍​​‍‌​‍​​‍​​‍‌‌‍‌‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‍​​‍‌​​‌‍‌‍​‍​​‍‌‌‍‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​​‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌‌‍​​​‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‍​​‍​​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‌​​​‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌‍​‌​​​‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‍​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌‌‍‌‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‍​‍​​​​‍‌‍‌​​‍‌​‍​​‌​‌​‍​​‍‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‍​​‍‌​‍​​‍​​‍‌‌‍‌‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‍​​‍‌​​‌‍‌‍​‍​​‍‌‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​​‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌‌‍​​​‌‌‍​‍​‌‌​​‍​​‍​​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‌​​​‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌‍​‌​​​‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‍​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍‌‌ 

Carbon emissions from fishing operations

Atmospheric CO₂ emissions and ocean acidification from bottom-trawling, by Atwood et al, examines the fishing method's climate impact. According to the study, bottom trawling releases up to 370 million tonnes of CO₂ into the atmosphere every year.

Approximately 112 million tonnes comes from European-flagged trawlers alone. Bottom trawling impacts marine life in the region's 6,000 MPAs, which encompass 900,000 km squared.

Research by Katherine Came found that more than 3,000 fish species were catalogued in bottom trawls globally. The catch includes endangered animals.

“Bottom trawl gear scrapes up the seafloor, releasing carbon that’s been stored in the ocean seabed for centuries,” says Kat Millage, Marine Researcher for National Geographic Pristine Seas and Lead Author on the study. 

“It is clear that the magnitude of emissions from trawling are substantial. 

“Even when we use a very conservative estimate of the social cost per metric ton of emitted CO₂, society is left bearing a heavy economic burden.”​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌‌‍‌‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‍​‍​​​​‍‌‍‌​​‍‌​‍​​‌​‌​‍​​‍‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‍​​‍‌​‍​​‍​​‍‌‌‍‌‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‍​​‍‌​​‌‍‌‍​‍​​‍‌‌‍‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​‌‌‍‌‌​​​‍​​​‌‌‍‌‌​​‍​‌‍​​‌​‌‍​‌‌​‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‌‌​‌‍​​‍​‌​​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌‌‍‌‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‍​‍​​​​‍‌‍‌​​‍‌​‍​​‌​‌​‍​​‍‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‍​​‍‌​‍​​‍​​‍‌‌‍‌‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‍​​‍‌​​‌‍‌‍​‍​​‍‌‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​‌‌‍‌‌​​​‍​​​‌‌‍‌‌​​‍​‌‍​​‌​‌‍​‌‌​‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‌‌​‌‍​​‍​‌​​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍‌‌ 

Carbon emissions from disturbed seafloor sediments contribute substantially to the US$18.7bn in costs. This figure reflects different valuations of the social cost of a tonne of CO₂ emitted into the air.

Government subsidies support operations

Millage et al analysed European waters between 2016 and 2021. The study compared benefits such as revenue, supply and jobs against costs including fuel, labour, discarded product, subsidies and carbon emissions.

According to the paper, net benefits to the fishing industry alone are positive at €180m annually. However, net benefit to society is negative on the order of €2.25bn to €16bn.

European governments spend €1.17bn (US$1.36bn) on bottom trawling to offset fuel prices. This support aims to protect food and job security.

Data shows that without these subsidies, bottom trawling activity would be unprofitable for some nations. Belgium, Spain, Great Britain, Portugal and Romania would face losses.

Food waste impacts margins

Up to 75% of marine life caught in bottom trawling nets die and are discarded back into the ocean. This waste is valued at €220m (US$257m) annually.

“Not all big is bad, nor all small beautiful, but where there is clear evidence that the economic and/or environmental costs of larger-scale mobile fishing gears outweigh any societal benefits from harvesting the resource, then it is right that alternatives are found and such operations are phased out,” says Jerry Percy, Sr. Advisor to the Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE).

“Small-scale fishers in Europe, on the other hand, prove every single day that we can feed communities by catching fish sustainably — without disturbing spawning grounds or kicking up carbon.”​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌‌‍‌‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‍​‍​​​​‍‌‍‌​​‍‌​‍​​‌​‌​‍​​‍‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‍​​‍‌​‍​​‍​​‍‌‌‍‌‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‍​​‍‌​​‌‍‌‍​‍​​‍‌‌‍‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍‌‍​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌​‍‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌​‍​​​​​‌‌‍​‌‌‍​‌​‌‍​‍‌​‌‍​​‍‌‍‌​‌‍​‍​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌‌‍‌‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‍​‍​​​​‍‌‍‌​​‍‌​‍​​‌​‌​‍​​‍‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‍​​‍‌​‍​​‍​​‍‌‌‍‌‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‍​​‍‌​​‌‍‌‍​‍​​‍‌‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍‌‍​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‌‍‌​‌‍​‌​‍‌​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌​‍​​​​​‌‌‍​‌‌‍​‌​‌‍​‍‌​‌‍​​‍‌‍‌​‌‍​‍​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍‌‌ 

Bottom trawling vessels require vast amounts of fuel to drag heavy nets across the seafloor. Norway and Iceland spend the most on fuel among European nations.

At least half the Dutch fleet stayed in port at the end of March 2026 because of soaring diesel costs amid the Iran war. This demonstrates the economic vulnerability of bottom trawling operations.

According to the paper, overfishing could enhance the social cost of CO₂ emissions. Impacts could include sea level rises, climate change effects and declining human health.

Policy changes in Europe

European leaders are taking steps to ban bottom trawling in protected waters. In April 2024, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced his commitment to ban bottom trawling in Greek MPAs by 2030.

“Βy moving to phase out bottom trawling across all Greek MPAs, Greece is taking decisive action to restore marine ecosystems, support sustainable fisheries and safeguard the long-term health of our seas,” says Prime Minister Mitsotakis. 

“It is the most effective way to implement the two major Marine Parks in the Aegean and Ionian Seas, bringing Greece closer to exceeding the 30x30 target.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌‌‍‌‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‍​‍​​​​‍‌‍‌​​‍‌​‍​​‌​‌​‍​​‍‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‍​​‍‌​‍​​‍​​‍‌‌‍‌‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‍​​‍‌​​‌‍‌‍​‍​​‍‌‌‍‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​​‌‍​​‍​‌‌​​‌‍​‌‍‌​​​‍‌‍​‌​​‍​‌‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌​‍‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‍​‌‍‌​‌‍​‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌‌‍‌‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‍​‍​​​​‍‌‍‌​​‍‌​‍​​‌​‌​‍​​‍‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‍​​‍‌​‍​​‍​​‍‌‌‍‌‌​‍‌‌‍​‍​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‍​​‍‌​​‌‍‌‍​‍​​‍‌‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​​‌‍​​‍​‌‌​​‌‍​‌‍‌​​​‍‌‍​‌​​‍​‌‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍‌‍‌‍‌‍​‌​‍‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‍​‌‍‌​‌‍​‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‍

“Banning bottom trawling in all Greek MPAs would represent a transformative step in safeguarding Posidonia seagrass beds and other vulnerable habitats, enhance carbon sequestration, support the rapid recovery of fish stocks and generate positive spillover effects into surrounding waters.

“In doing so, it would serve both biodiversity conservation and the long-term interests of fishers and local communities, strengthening the resilience and sustainability of the blue economy in Greece’s coastal regions.”

Sweden followed this announcement two months later. Both countries cited marine biodiversity concerns.

The European Commission's action plan calls for "gradually phasing out bottom fishing in all MPAs by 2030, in view of their key role in restoration of marine biodiversity and the importance of the seabed for healthy marine ecosystems and climate change mitigation."

The fishing industry faces decisions about alternative harvest methods. Supply chains for seafood products could see shifts as regulations take effect across the continent.