EU slammed over failure to protect marine life from ‘destructive’ fishing

Strict no-take policies urged by scientists, who note there is less protection in 59% of marine protected areas than outside MPAs

The waters of the EU are in a dismal" state, with only a third of fish populations studied in the north-east Atlantic considered to be in good condition, according to more than 200 scientists and conservationists.

The analysis, issued on Monday, follows a scathing report from the European court of auditors two years ago, which warned that the EU had failed to halt marine biodiversity loss in Europe's waters and to restore fishing to sustainable levels.