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Netherlands violated Habitats Directive by allowing bottom trawling in marine conservation zones, judges rule.
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A Dutch court has rebuked the Netherlands government for breaching EU environmental law by permitting trawling operations in protected waters.
Judges found the country violated the Habitats Directive, which designates marine areas off-limits to bottom trawling due to its destructive impact on seabed ecosystems. The ruling represents a significant enforcement action against member state non-compliance with EU conservation standards.
Environmental groups have long contested the Netherlands' practice of issuing permits for industrial fishing in designated protection zones. The court's decision could force a revision of fishing policies across multiple EU member states operating similar operations in protected areas.
A Dutch court ruled that the Netherlands illegally allowed bottom trawling in EU-protected marine zones, violating the Habitats Directive. The decision could force fishing policy changes across multiple EU member states that operate similarly in protected waters.
If other EU countries face similar court orders, fishing permit policies and seafood supply chains could shift significantly, potentially affecting food prices and availability. The ruling signals stricter enforcement of marine conservation rules that could reshape where and how industrial fishing operations are permitted in European waters.