Legal Challenge Launched Against French Authorities Over Seabird Bycatch
Three environmental organisations have filed a legal challenge against the French government, alleging a failure to protect seabird populations from commercial fishing activities.
The complaint, lodged before the Council of State (Conseil d’État), the counattempt’s highest administrative court, was brought by ClientEarth, Sea Shepherd France, and Défense des Milieux Aquatiques. The groups argue that French authorities have not met legal obligations to monitor and mitigate the accidental capture of seabirds, known as bycatch, in French waters.
In a joint statement, the NGOs asserted: “France must step up and put in place the protections that science — and the law — clearly demand.”
Allegations of Regulatory Failure
The legal action centres on the claim that France is in breach of several European Union regulations, including the Birds and Habitats Directives and the Technical Measures Regulation. The plaintiffs assert that current monitoring systems are insufficient and that the government has failed to implement available technical solutions to reduce bird mortality.
According to data cited in the filing, France records some of the highest levels of seabird bycatch in Europe. Estimates suggest that tens of thousands of birds are killed annually off the French coast after becoming entangled in fishing gear such as longlines and gillnets. Species reportedly affected include the common guillemot, the Northern gannet, and the Balearic shearwater, the latter of which is classified as critically concludeangered.
The organisations contconclude that the lack of visibility regarding these incidents is a significant hurdle, stating: “This catastrophe remains largely invisible, as most caught seabirds drown without ever washing ashore.”
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