Portugal fails European targets for the protection of marine areas

The non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Sea at Risk and Oceana, warned, this Tuesday, that Portugal is one of the Member States of the European Union (EU) with delays in meeting common, but non-binding, marine protection targets. , with only 5% of its waters designated as Marine Protected Areas.

In the document, the NGOs reveal that among seven Member States analyzed – Portugal, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands and Sweden – only four presented to the European Commission (EC) the commitments assumed, regarding the goals of protecting the marine environment. .

In addition to the delay in identifying Marine Protected Areas, Portugal, and also Ireland, did not provide any information on whether new zones will be added, nor on marine territories with stricter protection, which should reach 10% in 2030.

Of the Member States evaluated by Sea at Risk and Oceana, Germany, Denmark, Spain and Sweden have already submitted national proposals for commitments, however, only Copenhagen and Stockholm have publicly disclosed them.

Germany and the Netherlands have already reached the target of 30% of marine areas classified as protected, even though they have not sent their plans to the EC.

The NGOs call on the EC to make the targets in question binding in the next legislature and on the Member States to reinforce the political will to comply with these environmental standards.