EU takes action to protect sensitive habitats in the Dogger Bank

The European Union has introduced new rules to protect the Dogger Bank, an emblematic Natura 2000 site in the waters of Germany and the Netherlands. Starting 18 November 2025, fishing with mobile bottom contacting gears will be prohibited in specific areas within the site.

The objectives of these conservation measures are to

• minimise disturbance to sandbanks and support their ecological integrity
• improve the quality of the seabed habitat, including its typical and threatened species. Typical species for the Dogger Bank include: sea-pens, sand mason worm, brittle star, rayed trough shell and thornback ray.

These measures stem from a joint recommendation submitted by EU countries in the North Sea, with the Netherlands and Germany in the lead.

Strengthening the protection of these marine areas is an obligation under the Habitats Directive and a key objective of the Marine Action Plan . It is also a key outcome of the regionalisation process under the common fisheries policy, by which EU countries may propose measures to comply with EU environmental legislation.

In March 2024, scientists from the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) assessed the measures and concluded that they represent a positive step forward towards minimising the negative impacts of fishing activities on certain habitats and their biological communities.

These measures will also contribute to reaching the targets on restoration of marine ecosystems set under the Nature Restoration Regulation .

Currently, there are more than 3000 marine Natura 2000 sites, covering more than 9% of the total EU member states' marine area. They are the main contribution to the EU target of legally protecting at least 30% of EU marine area by 2030.

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