As the UN Ocean Conference kicks off in Nice on June 9, 2025, France is taking significant steps to enhance marine protection by aiming to ban bottom trawling in designated protected areas.

The French government has announced its commitment to accelerate the establishment of strong protection zones for its marine waters in advance of this international summit.

Minister of Ecological Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, outlined ambitious goals to increase the area of strong protection zones from 0.1% to 4% of French waters by 2026, and further to 14% by 2030, exceeding previous targets.

The proposed measures include a ban on bottom trawling in highly protected areas by the end of 2026, significantly expanding marine protected areas.

The plan also involves enhancing existing marine protected areas to achieve strong protection zone status, with assessments of human activity impacts and additional regulations expected by 2028.

This initiative is part of a broader strategy for marine protection, which was presented by Pannier-Runacher just a day before the conference.

France's efforts aim to demonstrate its commitment to ecological responsibilities while encouraging other nations to engage in collective action for ocean protection.

With the second-largest maritime area in the world, covering 11 million square kilometers and spanning four out of five oceans, France recognizes the necessity for robust biodiversity protection measures.

The government aspires for strong protection to cover over 70% of its territorial waters and 40% of hexagonal waters, significantly surpassing the 30% target set by international agreements.

Plans are underway to identify additional protected zones by the end of 2027, based on risk analyses related to fishing and consultations with local stakeholders.

These strong protection zones will prohibit human activities that significantly impact marine habitats, including mineral and hydrocarbon extraction, and will also include potential restrictions on recreational activities and land-based pollution.

President Emmanuel Macron recently announced plans to limit bottom trawling in specific zones, reinforcing the government's commitment to marine conservation.