The new measures target the oceans’ industrial exploitation without concrete provisions to preserve marine environment
If environmental NGOs are delighted that the government would finally seize its maritime assets, they deplore his lack of clear ambition to act for the preservation of the marine environment yet considered as “blue gold”.”France now controls the largest EEZ after the United States. The country has to allocate sufficient resources in terms of monitoring and management. Maritime policy is still too sectored and short-sighted. The protection of the marine environment must be the transverse and prospective basis”, said The Denez Hostis, president of France Nature Association (FNE).
Within one month of the opening of the COP 21, some 1,700 players took part to blue economy exchanges and debates about global economic development and issues related to the environment. “The measures announced by the Interdepartmental Committee of the Sea (Cimer) target the seabed industrial exploitation, but with no concrete provisions in favor of preserving a better marine environment. The absence of the Minister of Environment at this major maritime events is also indicative of the ambition of France on the protection of its marine domain” find bitterly NGOs.
The blue economy development must be enclosed
According to FNE, the blue economy’s development should be thought of in a sustainable manner with a balanced regulatory framework: sustainable aquaculture in respect of environment and consumers’ safety, seabed’s exploitation equipped with powerful monitoring capabilities, harbours should be equipped with facilities reducing artificial natural habitats and pollution… FNE said that the extent of human activities’ impact carried on marine environments is still largely unknown, even as the impacts of global warming make the seas and oceans vulnerable. While it is true that the French maritime economy is a heavyweight in the French economy, research investment, protection and exploitation of marine genetic resources are bloodless.
