Nearly 9 in 10 citizens (86%) surveyed across seven EU countries expect their political leaders to prioritise the protection of marine biodiversity, according to the results of national polls conducted by Sapience. The study further identifies that, to protect the ocean, citizens consider safeguarding endangered marine species, marine habitats, and stopping overfishing to be essential or important – 97%, 96%, and 93% respectively.
The polls were commissioned by NGOs Oceana and Seas At Risk.
The polls further reveal that 9 in 10 citizens (90%) believe that to protect marine biodiversity, marine protected areas (MPAs) are a necessary tool. In the seven countries surveyed, 82% of citizens believe in stricter regulation of bottom trawling (ranging from 75% support in The Netherlands to 93% in Portugal), and 73% of citizens would support banning this destructive fishing practice in EU MPAs. A recent Eurobarometer poll confirmed that European citizens place high importance on environmental matters and vastly believe legislation to be necessary to protect the environment.
Nicolas Fournier, campaign director for marine protection at Oceana in Europe said: “Despite claims against the EU Green Deal and the protection of the environment made by conservative and far-right forces during the elections campaign, facts don’t lie: EU citizens want more marine protection. Restrictions against destructive fishing in protected areas are one way to achieve this. We call on the new EU political leaders to protect Europe’s seas and respond to the climate and biodiversity crises threatening them, to also safeguard the future of ocean-dependent communities, including fishers.”
Tatiana Nuño, senior marine policy officer at Seas at Risk added: “The recent announcements by the Greek and Swedish governments that they will ban bottom trawling in marine protected areas, along with the overwhelming public support for stricter marine protection unveiled by these European polls, must trigger a positive trend of concrete actions over the new upcoming EU political cycle. The destructive practice of bottom trawling should be banned from all European protected areas to preserve a healthy ocean that, in turn, can support sustainable jobs and a resilient blue economy.”
EU polls were conducted in April 2024 by independent polling agency Sapience, who polled 1000 people each in Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and The Netherlands, representative of national populations.
The polls also reveal that greater knowledge of MPAs amongst citizens correlates with stronger support for stricter legislation on them – ranging from roughly 40% support amongst those with no knowledge at all, to almost 60% amongst those who know a great deal.
The full report can be viewed here.