Latest news with #AlexandraCousteau
Forbes
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Forbes
Cousteau Condemns France's Failure To Curb Bottom Trawling
Alexandra Cousteau is calling out the French government for what she refers to as political inaction ... More on bottom trawling In a powerful condemnation of what she calls 'political inaction,' ocean advocate Alexandra Cousteau— granddaughter of legendary oceanographer Jacques Cousteau— has joined forces with Oceana to shine a light on France's failure to curb one of the most destructive forms of industrial fishing— bottom trawling. 'The ocean is my life's work— it's in my blood,' says Cousteau. 'My grandfather Jacques-Yves Cousteau helped the world fall in love with the sea, and I've dedicated my life to building on that legacy. It's not just about protecting what remains but also restoring what has been lost.' Bottom trawling is a destructive fishing method that involves dragging massive, weighted nets across the seafloor, unselectively scooping up marine life. Despite France positioning itself as a steward of marine protection and preparing to host the third United Nations Ocean Conference from June 9–13, a new Oceana report reveals that bottom trawling continues unabated in 42% of France's marine protected areas (MPAs) in European waters, including some of the nation's most prized Marine Nature Parks. This controversial practice— likened to razing a forest just to catch a few birds— tears up fragile seafloor habitats, indiscriminately kills marine organisms, releases carbon stored in ocean sediment, and undermines the very ecosystems these protections were designed to defend. 'Political inaction has allowed destructive activities to continue in places that should be off-limits,' says Cousteau. 'This is the time for President Macron to lead by example and end bottom trawling in France's marine protected areas.' At the 2022 UN Biodiversity Conference, over 190 countries pledged to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030 to safeguard marine biodiversity, restore fish populations, and boost climate resilience. France, long seen as a champion of ocean conservation, claims it has already met the 30x30 target by designating 30% of its waters as protected. A trawl net is hauled up and the fish are poured into the bin for sorting aboard a Boulogne-sur-Mer ... More based trawler after a fishing campaign off the coast of northern France (Photo by) But according to the ocean advocacy group, the reality tells a different story. Despite possessing the world's second largest Exclusive Economic Zone, France has placed just 0.03% of its marine protected areas under full protection from extractive activities. Using satellite tracking data from Global Fishing Watch, Oceana found that roughly 70% of trawlers operating within these so-called protected zones fly the French flag. Among them are vessels using 'beam trawls'— massive nets held open by steel beams and dragged across the seafloor— infamous for causing some of the most severe damage to vulnerable marine habitats. One of the marine national parks in the study, the Picardy Estuaries and Opal Sea, saw nearly 60 trawlers log close to 7,500 hours of fishing in 2024. Most were French-flagged, including small boats targeting shrimp and scallops, while 21 were large industrial vessels using heavy beam trawls to scrape the seafloor for flatfish. Cousteau has seen the impacts firsthand. 'Throughout my life, I've traveled the globe exploring the oceans and I've seen firsthand what's at stake… To see destruction happening in places that are meant to be safe havens is heartbreaking.' The Oceana report highlights that healthy coastal ecosystems are essential not only for food security and local livelihoods but also for climate resilience. They buffer communities from rising seas and act as powerful carbon sinks— oceans have absorbed 20 to 30% of all human-generated CO₂ since the 1980s, according to the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Yet bottom trawling threatens this critical role, disturbing sediments and releasing an estimated 0.58 to 1.47 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide into the water each year, weakening one of the planet's most vital climate defenses. 'The ocean floor stores an enormous amount of carbon, and when trawlers pass through, they churn up the seafloor, remobilizing that carbon,' says Cousteau. 'So while the ocean has helped us reduce the worst impacts of climate change, this extremely destructive activity could imperil the ocean's ability to absorb even more carbon dioxide in the future.' Cousteau refers to Oceana's findings as 'deeply troubling,' pointing to data showing that in France's Marine Nature Parks— some of the country's most iconic marine protected areas— more than 100 bottom trawlers collectively spent over 17,000 hours fishing. 'That's like one boat trawling non-stop for nearly two years straight,' she says. 'These are supposed to be sanctuaries for marine life and important ocean ecosystems, but instead these fragile habitats are being bulldozed, wildlife is being decimated, and the very idea of protection turns out to be mere lines on a map.' Cousteau emphasizes that the problem isn't isolated to France. The problem is widespread across Europe, where EU waters are the most heavily trawled in the world, with 92% of discarded fish linked to the practice, according to WWF. A 2025 analysis found bottom trawling occurs in 77% of France's protected marine areas, 85% in Germany, and 44% in Italy, totaling over 1.7 million hours annually. A recent study estimates the economic toll to the EU could reach €10.8 billion a year, mainly from carbon released by disturbed seafloor sediments. Crab Fishing Trawler in German North Sea 'Allowing bottom trawling in marine protected areas makes a mockery of the very concept of protection,' Cousteau states. In May, Oceana and a coalition of groups— including Patagonia, WeMove Europe, ClientEarth, Bloom Association, and Protect Our Catch— delivered a petition with over 250,000 signatures to EU Fisheries Commissioner Costas Kadis, urging a ban on bottom trawling in marine protected areas. The move highlights rising public concern, with polls showing 82% of Europeans support tougher rules and 73% favor a total ban in MPAs— putting growing pressure on EU decision-makers to act. Calls to ban bottom trawling have grown louder in recent weeks, fueled by a surge in public outrage following the release of Ocean, a powerful new film by Sir David Attenborough. The documentary exposes the devastating impact of trawling on fragile seafloor habitats, showing how massive nets gouge deep scars into the ocean floor, where recovery can take decades, if it happens at all. Cousteau asserts that if nations are genuinely committed to achieving the 30x30 conservation target, they must implement comprehensive bans on bottom trawling within all marine protected areas— not partial restrictions that permit the practice in some zones while prohibiting it in others. Given France's longstanding reputation as a leader in ocean governance, taking decisive action to eliminate bottom trawling from its protected waters would set a compelling precedent for the international community. 'Banning bottom trawling in all French marine protected areas would not only help marine life and habitats, but also the coastal communities that depend on a healthy ocean,' she says. 'Science has shown time and time again that when we give the ocean space to recover, fish populations rebound, ecosystems recover, and small-scale fisheries benefit economically.' Cousteau's collaboration with Oceana is rooted in a mutual commitment to science-driven, results-oriented advocacy. 'I work with Oceana because I admire their effectiveness,' she says. 'They are science-based and results-driven. Oceana understands that saving the oceans requires real action.' Having spoken with leaders across the globe, Cousteau believes the knowledge is there. 'The real question is: are they willing to act?' She sees France as uniquely positioned to lead. The responsibility, she says, rests squarely with the French government— particularly the president and the ministers of environment and fisheries. 'It's up to them to ensure that marine protected areas live up to their name.' Taking meaningful steps to end destructive practices like bottom trawling, she adds, would bring France in line with its international commitments and set a powerful precedent for other nations. 'France gave the world Jacques Cousteau, and it must do better than to allow destructive activities like bottom trawling in its marine protected areas,' she says. 'The time for action is now.'
Associated Press
29-01-2025
- Science
- Associated Press
Groundbreaking Research Confirms Seaweed Farming's Potential as a Blue Carbon Solution
Oceans 2050, under the leadership of President Alexandra Cousteau and Chief Scientist Professor Carlos Duarte, has unveiled landmark findings published in Nature Climate Change that demonstrate the significant climate mitigation potential of seaweed farming. The study, titled 'Carbon burial in sediments below seaweed farms matches that of Blue Carbon habitats,' marks the first comprehensive, empirical assessment of carbon burial rates beneath seaweed farms globally. Conducted across 20 seaweed farms spanning five continents, the study confirms that seaweed farming can sequester carbon in the sediments below at rates comparable to vegetated coastal ecosystems like mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses. This research highlights the dual benefits of seaweed farming: meeting food security and economic development goals while advancing climate change mitigation efforts. Key findings include: Seaweed farms bury carbon at rates similar to mangroves and seagrasses, two ecosystems already known for their climate benefits. Older and larger seaweed farms store more carbon, showing that sustainable farming can have lasting impacts. If expanded worldwide, seaweed farming could remove up to 140 million tons of CO2 from the atmosphere every year by 2050. 'This research provides compelling evidence of the critical role that seaweed farming can play in addressing the climate crisis,' said Alexandra Cousteau, President of Oceans 2050. 'By quantifying its carbon sequestration potential, we hope to unlock new avenues for investment in sustainable aquaculture as a climate solution.' Professor Carlos Duarte, lead author and Chief Scientist of Oceans 2050, emphasized the study's broader implications: 'Seaweed farming offers a scalable, nature-based solution for carbon removal while delivering co-benefits such as biodiversity enhancement, economic opportunities, and food security. This research is a pivotal step towards integrating seaweed aquaculture into global climate strategies.' The findings also underscore the need for robust frameworks to develop carbon credits for seaweed farming, ensuring that this promising Blue Carbon strategy can be integrated into carbon markets. By prioritizing marine spatial planning and sustainability, seaweed farming has the potential to become a cornerstone of the regenerative Blue Economy. This research is part of Oceans 2050's Global Seaweed Project, launched in September 2020, and marks a pivotal milestone in the advancement of the seaweed industry, providing a robust scientific foundation for the creation of a verified carbon credit methodology. By quantifying the carbon sequestration potential of seaweed farms, the Global Seaweed Project demonstrates the feasibility of creating a new blue carbon market that can support both climate mitigation and the development of a sustainable Blue Economy. Additionally, the project highlights the significant social impact of seaweed farming, with over 99% of participating farmers, most of whom are women, coming from coastal communities in developing countries. This underscores seaweed farming's potential to promote gender equity, improve food security, and strengthen local resilience to climate change. In 2021, the Global Seaweed Project was awarded the prestigious Keeling Curve Award that recognizes outstanding initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The project has been generously funded by World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Bezos Earth Fund via WWF, the Grantham Foundation, and Climateworks Foundation, enabling groundbreaking research and impactful initiatives. Reference of the Study and Link Duarte, C.M., A. Delgado-Huertas, E. Marti, B. Gasser, I. San Martin, A. Cousteau, F. Neumeyer, M. Reilly-Cayten, J. Boyce, T. Kuwae, M. Hori, T. Miyajima, N. N. Price, S. Arnold, A. M. Ricart, S. Davis, N. Surugau, A. Al-Jeria, J. Wu, X. Xiao, I. K. Chung, C.G Choi, C. F.A. Sondak, H. Albasri, D. Krause-Jensen, A. Bruhn, T. Boderskov, K. Hancke. J. Funderud, A. R. Borrero-Santiago, F. Pascal, P. Joanne, L. Ranivoarivelo, W. T. Collins, J. Clark, J.F. Gutierrez, R. Riquelme, M. Avila, P. I. Macreadie, and P. Masque. 2024. Carbon Burial in Sediments below Seaweed Farms matches that of blue carbon habitats. Nature Climate Change. About Oceans 2050 Oceans 2050 is dedicated to enabling a future where our oceans thrive. We believe in the power of collaboration to achieve this goal. Oceans 2050 focuses on strategies that bridge the gap between people and the planet by empowering ocean changemakers, scaling innovative technologies, enabling transformational initiatives, and developing public tools to accelerate the restoration of abundant oceans by creating a connected experience right at our fingertips. Visit for more information. About the Global Seaweed Project Launched in September 2020, The Global Seaweed Carbon Project aims to harness the power of seaweed farming to mitigate climate change and restore ocean health. By quantifying the carbon sequestration of macroalgae (seaweed) beneath seaweed farms, we are creating a pathway to a new blue carbon market that can drive sustainable growth. This project enhances understanding of seaweed farming's role in capturing carbon, attracts investment, and generates additional revenue streams for farmers while restoring marine ecosystems. Our ultimate goal is to create the conditions needed to scale up seaweed farming, potentially removing gigatons of atmospheric CO₂ and regenerating our oceans. Visit for more information. About Global Water Challenge Global Water Challenge (GWC) is the fiscal sponsor for Oceans 2050 in the USA. GWC is a sector leader in mobilizing clean water access, advancing water security and community empowerment in high need regions around the world. Since 2005, GWC has positively impacted more than 3 million people across Africa, the Americas and Asia with improved WASH delivery while providing critical tools, data and best practices to reach millions more. With our 100+ multi-sector partners, we engage for action – catalyzing financial resources and driving innovative programming for sustainable, local solutions. Visit for more information. SOURCE: Oceans 2050 Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 01/29/2025 03:29 PM/DISC: 01/29/2025 03:29 PM
