Natura 2000 and fisheries: Regional processes

The Danish marine Natura 2000 network comprises of 97 sites, of which 65 have been designated for reef structures (habitat code H1170 and H 1180).

In 2011 Denmark launched the initiative to ensure adequate protection of reef structures in all 65 sites. This work is coordinated in two tracks: a national track (42 sites) and an international track (23 sites).

Regional processes

State of Play

National track
Of the 42 sites located in the coastal zone where only Danish fishermen have fishing rigths – 32 sites are fully protected either through the Natura 2000 National Order (No. 1048/2013) or through the National Order governing fishery with trawls in the coastal zone (No. 1588/2015).

An additional 10 coastal sites will be included in the Natura 2000 National Order later in 2017.

International track
23 of the 65 sites are located in waters where other Member States have fishing rights.

In 2014, Denmark launched a regional process with Sweden and Germany with the aim of protecting reef structures in 10 Danish Natura 2000 sites in the Kattegat area and Western Baltic Sea.

The Delegated Act came into force on 1 January 2016. The Delegated Act can be downloaded here
Delegated Act 2015-1778

Copy of Joint Recommendation can be downloaded here
Joint Recommendation Feb 2015_Baltic Sea sites

Ongoing regional processes

Denmark,as the initiating Member State, has invited the Baltic Sea Member States to the regional process regarding the Baltic Sea sites `Adler Grund & Tønneberg Banke´. For the other 6 sites, only Sweden and Germany have fishing rights.

The second regional process was launched on 7 April 2016, with the task of protecting reef structures in additional 7 sites. The drafted proposals can be downloaded below. These proposals were forwarded, alongside the joint recommendations to the European Commission in early 2017. The European Commissionen has accepted the forwarded proposals and implemented the regulation in European legislation as delegated acts, which can be downloaded below.

Pre-consultation meeting 9th of May 2016
DRAFT Proposal DK_Baltic Sea sites

DRAFT Proposal DK_North Sea sites

1. meeting ad hoc working group 22nd June 2016

SECOND DRAFT Proposal DK_Baltic Sea sites

SECOND DRAFT Proposal DK_North Sea sites

2. meeting ad hoc working group 21st August 2016

THIRD DRAFT Proposal DK_Baltic Sea sites

THIRD DRAFT Proposal DK_North Sea sites

Updated drafts

THIRD DRAFT Proposal DK_Baltic Sea sites

THIRD DRAFT Proposal DK_North Sea sites

FOURTH DRAFT Proposal DK western Baltic Sea