The Greenpeace organisation plans to prevent bottom trawling in two Natura 2000 areas in the Kattegat between Sweden and Denmark by placing out stone boulders.
Although the practice needs no licence, according to Greenpeace, the organisation has notified authorities, including the Swedish Ministry of the Environment. The notification included an environmental impact assessment, and Greenpeace plans both public hearings and further sea research “in order to perfect the methodology of the planned activities”. It has already opened an on-line Internet forum for comments.
The two areas, Fladen and Lilla Middelgrunden, are fished by both Swedish, Danish and German trawlers, mostly for Norway lobster and cod. They are officially designed as parts of the NATURA 2000 network of conservation sites of Community importance.
“Swedish government authorities have so far failed to ban fishing in these areas, despite the clearly identified threat that it represents”, Greenpeace noted.