Portugal is one of the European Union (EU) member states lagging behind in meeting common, but non-binding, marine protection targets, with only 5% of its waters designated as Marine Protected Areas, two environmental organizations warned today.
The non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Seas at Risk and Oceana announced today that of the seven member states analyzed – Portugal, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands and Sweden – only four have submitted their commitments to the European Commission regarding marine protection targets.
An assessment of the commitments made by the member states with regard to the targets for protecting the marine environment shows that, in addition to the delay in identifying Marine Protected Areas, Portugal and Ireland have also not provided any information on whether new areas will be added or on more strictly protected marine territories, which should reach 10% by 2030.
Of the member states evaluated, Germany, Denmark, Spain and Sweden have already submitted national proposals for commitments, but only Copenhagen and Stockholm have made them public.
Germany and the Netherlands have already reached the target of 30% of marine areas classified as protected, despite not having sent their plans to the EU executive.
The two NGOs are calling on the European Commission to make these targets binding in the next parliamentary term and on member states to strengthen the political will to comply with these environmental standards.
