The European Union is on course to fall short of its 2030 goals for safeguarding marine biodiversity, according to a new report from the European Court of Auditors (ECA). Despite designating roughly 14% of its seas as protected zones, less than 1% of those waters receive strict protection, leaving many ecosystems exposed to harmful practices such as bottom trawling and other forms of commercial fishing.
The bloc has pledged to protect 30% of its marine territory by the end of the decade, with 10% under the highest level of protection. But the auditors caution that simply expanding the network of protected areas will not deliver meaningful results unless accompanied by enforceable restrictions on activities that degrade the seabed and disturb marine life.
“The EU has made some progress in designating marine protected areas, but our audit shows that the true challenge is turning designation into actual protection,” said Iliana Ivanova, the ECA member responsible for the audit. “Turning political ambition into tangible results for marine ecosystems will require faster action, applicable protective measures and a more coherent network across the EU’s seas.”
Protected on paper, not in practice
The gap between designation and enforcement is stark. Fishing restrictions apply to only a small fraction of the designated areas, despite the well-documented threat that commercial fishing poses to vulnerable habitats. In many cases, protected status does not automatically limit damaging activities, and authorities often lack the staff, funding, or legal powers to intervene when violations occur.
“The process for adopting conservation measures affecting fishing fleets of several member states can be complex and lengthy because it may require negotiations between member states that have fishing interests, as well as with various stakeholders. It can take many years, and few conservation measures have been adopted since 2013,” the ECA report notes.
Some countries have made headway. France and Sweden, for instance, have introduced bans on bottom trawling in certain zones and have engaged local communities in the design of protection measures. Others, like Ireland, have been held back by significant data gaps and legal delays, leaving their marine environments in a precarious state.
The political sensitivity of stricter rules is a recurring obstacle. Fishing communities and other industries that depend on marine resources often bear the immediate costs of restrictions, and without adequate consultation or support, they can become vocal opponents. This dynamic makes designation politically easier than enforcement, a point the auditors stress.
“To ensure that marine protected areas function effectively, we need the European Commission and member states to join forces, as well as engagement with local stakeholders,” Ivanova added.
Funding gaps and fragmented governance
Financing for marine conservation is another weak link. The ECA report highlights that efforts rely on a patchwork of national budgets and various EU funding instruments, leaving protected areas under-resourced and unable to plan for the long term. Chronic staff shortages and bureaucratic inertia further undermine enforcement, even when illegal or harmful activities are identified.
The auditors are calling for a more harmonised approach across the EU, moving beyond national strategies towards a coordinated framework that ensures consistent and enforceable conservation rules. They also urge the European Commission and member states to work together more closely, with meaningful involvement of local stakeholders.
Environmental groups echo these concerns. Monica Verbeek, executive director of the NGO Seas At Risk, said Europe does not lack policies, solutions, or scientific knowledge. What is missing, she argues, is the political will to implement them effectively.
As the 2030 deadline approaches, the gap between ambition and reality in Europe’s seas is becoming harder to ignore. Without a decisive shift from paper protection to practical enforcement, the EU’s biodiversity commitments risk remaining an aspiration rather than a legacy.
