In the frame of the Natura 2000 program of the EU 30% of the coasts of the EU will become “protected areas” and one third (10%) will be “strictly protected areas”.
Four years ago, angling was not foreseen in these protected areas as the EU Commission regarded angling as an extractive activity.
After three years of intense lobbying work explaining that we anglers go fishing for the nature experience - and not for killing fish! - and underlining that we are perfectly happy with catch & release, the Commission stopped regarding us as an “extractive activity”!
Thus we are not excluded by the Commission from fishing within the future “marine protected areas”!
