A controversial general ban on beam trawling in Danish waters in the Skagerrak and North Sea is in place, according to the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries. The general ban on beam trawls initially was applied only to five Natura 2000 areas as part of a specific program to protect vulnerable habitat. Now, however, the ban applies to all waters in the marine regions off Denmark’s west and north coastlines. The ban is controversial within the country’s commercial fishing community in part because it applies only to Danish-flag fishing vessels. Other EU-registered vessels continue to operate under EU law in Danish waters. While Denmark is, according to the Fisheries Minister, trying to persuade the EU to adopt the ban, no such EU action has yet been taken.
The Danish action follows studies that document trawling’s effects on the seabed. Fisheries Minister Jacob Jensen (V) stated that Denmark has a responsibility to protect its marine areas and wildlife, so that future generations can also benefit from the sea’s resources. The first step on the road to a better marine environment will be a national phasing out of beam trawling, while at the same time Denmark will work for a common European solution, so that it will be prohibited across the EU. The ban applies to larger trawlers only, excluding smaller vessels in, for example, the fishery for brown shrimp (Crangon crangon).