Latest news with #SaintMalo
The Guardian
06-06-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
‘It's goodbye to French fishermen': Macron under pressure as crucial UN ocean summit opens
On his trawler in Saint-Malo, one of France's most important ports for scallops and crabs, Laurent Mevel is fixing his nets. 'We really want to protect the seas,' says the 60-year-old fisher. 'But we've got crews, we've got employees. 'If you don't fish any more, the fish will come from Ireland, from Scotland. Now the fish you buy from shops comes by plane. And costs less.' The Mevel family has been fishing the waters off Brittany as long as they can remember. Beside him, Mevel's father, Emile, 83, is also on the boat untangling nylon. Mevel's 29-year-old son, Clément, is busying about. The family trawler catches fish, cuttlefish and 'lots of scallops'. But soon all that could be over, says Mevel, who claims environmental measures are slowly killing the fishing industry. 'We'll have to make do on peanuts,' he says. 'We'll become a heritage asset. That's not what we want; we just want to work.' This weekend, world leaders will gather in Nice, on the south coast of France, for a UN summit to tackle what they describe as a 'global emergency' facing the world's seas. Co-hosted by Costa Rica and France, which expects 70 heads of state to attend, the UN ocean conference (UNOC) seeks to build global unity on issues such as plastic pollution, industrial fishing and deep-sea mining to halt the decline of marine environments. But the conference will also shine a spotlight on a difficult dilemma for its host, Emmanuel Macron. The French president has high ambitions for the summit, chief among them getting 60 nations to ratify the high seas treaty to protect biodiversity in international waters, agreed in 2023. This would be enough to bring into force the treaty, which is crucial to meet a globally agreed biodiversity target of protecting 30% of the oceans by 2030, known as '30x30'. Yet, in waters closer to home, Macron faces some serious opposition to his role as environmental protector. This comes from numerous voices within a powerful fishing industry that has been opposing efforts to limit the impact of bottom trawling, a destructive fishing method, off the French coast. Theirs is no small collective voice – because of its overseas territories, France has the world's second-largest maritime area after the US. Critics say that as a result, France is doing less than others to protect its seabed and biodiversity, by failing to ban bottom trawling in 'protected' areas. France claims to have protected 33% of its ocean with specially designed marine protected areas (MPAs) but in reality 98% allow destructive activities and only 0.03% are strictly protected, the Oceana conservation organisation claims. An open letter to Macron from 60 scientists and environmental experts, published by Le Figaro in March, drew unfavourable comparisons between the UNOC co-host and countries including Britain, Sweden and Greece, which are taking action to ban bottom trawling in protected areas. 'Our international credibility is at stake,' they warned. The European Union goes further than the 30x30 target, recommending that 10% of European coastal and marine waters be safeguarded under a 'strict protection' regime. Environmentalists say France does not meet this recommendation or formally prohibit industrial activity, bar mining and mineral extraction. Jean-Pierre Gattuso, research director at the French National Centre for Scientific Research, believes France to be a leader in ocean science and protection. But bottom trawling in MPAs is a 'dark spot' on the nation's record, he says. 'Clearly it's inappropriate to have bottom trawling in marine protected areas,' he says. 'David Attenborough's movie, Ocean, had footage showing just how destructive it is. This is a hot topic because there's a conflict of usage.' Macron is credited by many environmentalists for warning about deep-sea mining at the UNOC in Lisbon in 2022, where he said a legal framework was needed to stop it happening, and to prevent new activities 'putting in danger these ecosystems'. Later that year, at the COP climate summit in Egypt, he expressed opposition to deep-sea mining permits. The French government is working to build an international coalition calling for a ban. Supporters of his stance hope he will announce bold action again this year. Tobias Troll, director of marine policy at the environmental coalition Seas at Risk, says: 'The French and Macron court the media by shining the spotlight on the ocean, but when it comes to protecting ecosystems in MPAs or regulating fishing, we need action. 'In France mainland waters, not even 0.03% benefit from high protection, according to international standards,' he adds. 'It's basically nothing.' Gauthier Carle, deputy director of Ocean & Climate Platform, a network of more than 100 research institutes, museums and NGOs, believes Macron is being held back by a fear of the potential political fallout. 'The French government fears announcing strong measures will annoy the fishermen. Maybe the ports will be blocked; maybe the fishermen could go further with the far right – and maybe they could cause trouble at the next election,' he says. 'I hope that Macron will say something transformative and bold, given the crisis of biodiversity and climate change.' In response to criticisms over MPAs in French waters, the Élysée Palace declared that 'an important announcement' would be made on the issue at the UN ocean conference. 'There are some points where we agree with the NGOs and scientific community – on the need for a strengthening of the level of protection in some marine protected areas – but we don't focus only on bottom trawling,' the president's office said. Back in Saint-Malo, tensions are high. The waters close to the city are home to about 500 dolphins and have been declared an MPA. Campaign groups, such as the marine environmental charity Bloom, are keeping a watchful eye on these and other waters they claim are not being given the protection they are entitled to. Bloom has published a red list of nearly 4,000 French trawlers it says fish in protected waters, and claims that industrial bottom-trawling accounts for 27% of landings of overexploited fish populations. 'We're in the list of the famous 4,000 boats. Why?' Mevel says. 'They're idiots.' He points to the boat berthed next to his, which is not on the list because it is 10cm below the 12-metre-long threshold above which Bloom counts a trawler as industrial. 'He does the same thing as me,' Mevel says. 'We do the same job, exactly the same thing.' Mevel says that if it is done correctly, trawling is harmless. 'We don't destroy anything,' he says. 'The mesh lets the small fish pass.' Olivier Leprêtre, president of the Hauts-de-France regional fisheries committee, which covers ports such as Calais and Boulogne, says claims about bottom trawling are 'a stigmatisation by certain charities that have led this discourse that it is necessary to ban trawling. 'Trawling has been practised since the dawn of time. There are still fish … the fishermen have always improved their fishing techniques. 'If we carry on in this direction,' he warns, 'it's goodbye to every French fisherman.'
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Osaka 'enjoying' battle to get back to top
Naomi Osaka is "enjoying" her fight to climb back to the upper echelons of tennis as she prepares for her French Open campaign, after showing signs of a return to form this year. The four-time Grand Slam champion, who missed a match point against eventual winner Iga Swiatek in one of the matches of the 2024 tournament, has returned to the world's top 50. Osaka did not play in 2023 due to the birth of her daughter and struggled for consistency after returning to the professional circuit last season. The Japanese star, who has been open in the past about her battles with depression and mental health issues, says she is relishing her tennis. "I think I'm enjoying the time more. I'm enjoying seeing the newer players coming up," Osaka told reporters at Roland Garros on Saturday. "I don't know. Feels like the circle of life a little bit. "I think for me I know that I came back and I'm choosing to spend this time away from my daughter in order to attempt to achieve things, so I have to make the most out of that time. "Coming here or playing any tournament without a positive mentality would just be pointless." The 27-year-old stepped down a level to play a second-tier Challenger event in Saint-Malo earlier this month and secured her first tournament victory since winning the 2021 Australian Open. Osaka has also produced strong runs in bigger competitions, reaching the last 16 at both the Miami and Italian Opens. "I think the decision itself (to play in Saint-Malo) was kind of difficult, because in your mind, you do have a little bit of pride," she admitted. "There was a lot of pressure. I wouldn't really say it was to not lose, but it was more like I had in the back of my head, 'I wonder what people would say about me if I lost here'. "Granted, I should never be thinking about that when I'm playing a tennis match... But I got over it." - Rude awakening - Osaka revealed her preparations for Roland Garros, where she will face Spanish 10th seed Paula Badosa in the first round, were hit by a 5:00 am wake-up call from anti-doping officials on Saturday. "Today was kind of scary, because the last year I was here they also came at 5:00 am, and the lady couldn't find my veins at all," she added. "I had huge bruises on my arms for a while. Thankfully it wasn't the same lady. No shade to her." Osaka has been wearing flower-inspired outfits this year and unveiled cherry blossom-themed shoes for Roland Garros, with potentially a kit to match. "I'm really excited about the kit, because I designed it," she said. "I don't know if you can see from all the way over here, but I did my nails and they're sakura-themed too." Osaka, who has never got past the third round at the French Open, will be playing Badosa for the first time on either Monday or Tuesday. "It's kind of crazy that we have both been on tour but we haven't played each other yet," she said. "I think I'm going to be nervous because it is the first round, and I'm always nervous in the first round. Hopefully they'll put us on a really good court." jc/pi
Japan Times
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Japan Times
Naomi Osaka takes inspiration from Andre Agassi as clay court season heats up
Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka said this year's clay court swing feels different as she enters it with momentum and confidence following a run of victories. Last week, Osaka beat Slovenian Kaja Juvan 6-1, 7-5 in the final of the L'Open 35 de Saint-Malo, a WTA 125 tournament, to win her first clay court title at any level. It was also her first WTA crown since becoming a mother in July 2023. "I wanted to rack up experience on clay," Osaka told reporters after defeating wild card Sara Errani 6-2, 6-3 in the first round of the Italian Open on Wednesday. "I didn't really have too much of an ego playing that tournament. "I'm okay playing on Court 16 if I have to anyways. The reason I came back wasn't to play on center courts all the time, it's because I really enjoy the game." Osaka said her decision to play in Saint-Malo was inspired by American great Andre Agassi, who rebuilt his career in the late 1990s by competing on the ATP Challenger Tour. "I remember reading (Agassi's) book," she said. "There was a moment where ... he was saying he was flipping his own scoreboards. Someone came and yelled, 'Image is everything!' I would say that section of the book crossed my mind more." The former world No. 1 has often struggled on clay, having never gone past the third round of the French Open, where she is set to play in the main draw this month. "I'm coming into it with a lot more wins," she said. "Obviously, I would say I'm a lot more comfortable on clay now ... I feel like clay is very strength-reliant." Osaka was set to face No. 9 seed Paula Badosa in the Italian Open on Thursday, but after the Spaniard withdrew due to injury, Osaka beat Swiss lucky loser Viktorija Golubic 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 for her seventh straight win on clay.
CNA
08-05-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Osaka inspired by Agassi as she embraces claycourt grind
Four-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka said this year's claycourt swing feels different as she enters it with momentum and confidence following a run of victories. Japan's Osaka beat Slovenian Kaja Juvan 6-1 7-5 last week in the final of the L'Open 35 de Saint-Malo, a WTA 125 tournament, to win her first claycourt title at any level. It was also her first WTA crown since becoming a mother in July 2023. "I wanted to rack up experience on clay. I didn't really have too much of an ego playing that tournament," Osaka told reporters after defeating wildcard Sara Errani 6-2 6-3 in the the Italian Open first round on Wednesday. "I'm okay playing on Court 16 if I have to anyways. The reason I came back wasn't to play on centre courts all the time, it's because I really enjoy the game." Osaka said her decision to play in Saint-Malo was inspired by American great Andre Agassi, who rebuilt his career in the late 1990s by competing on the ATP Challenger Tour. "I remember reading (Agassi's) book. There was a moment where... he was saying he was flipping his own scoreboards. Someone came and yelled, 'Image is everything!', I would say that section of the book crossed my mind more," she said. The former world number one has often struggled on clay, having never gone past the third round of the French Open, in which she is set to feature in the main draw this month. "I'm coming into it with a lot more wins. Obviously, I would say I'm a lot more comfortable on clay now... I feel like clay is very strength-reliant," she said. Osaka was set to face ninth seed Paula Badosa in the Italian Open on Thursday, but after the Spaniard withdrew due to injury, Osaka breezed past Swiss lucky loser Viktorija Golubic 6-2 6-3 for her sixth straight win on clay.
Asharq Al-Awsat
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Osaka Inspired by Agassi's Comeback as She Embraces Clay Court Grind
Four times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka said this year's clay court swing feels different as she enters it with momentum, having picked up wins and confidence in the recent weeks. Osaka beat Slovenia's Kaja Juvan 6-1 7-5 last week in the final of the L'Open 35 de Saint-Malo, a WTA 125 tournament, to win her first clay-court title at any level. It was also her first WTA title since becoming a mother in July 2023. "I wanted to rack up experience on clay. I didn't really have too much of an ego playing that tournament," Osaka told reporters after defeating wild card Sara Errani 6-2 6-3 in the first round of the Italian Open on Wednesday. "I'm okay playing on Court 16 if I have to anyways. The reason I came back wasn't to play on center courts all the time, it's because I really enjoy the game." Osaka said her decision to drop down to play in Saint-Malo was inspired by American great Andre Agassi, who rebuilt his career in the late 1990s by competing on the ATP Challenger Tour. "I remember reading (Agassi's) book. There was a moment where... he was saying he was flipping his own scoreboards. Someone came and yelled, 'Image is everything!' I would say that section of the book crossed my mind more," she said. The former world number one has often struggled on clay, having never gone past the third round at the French Open, where she is set to feature in the main draw later this month. Osaka plays ninth seed Paula Badosa in the Italian Open on Thursday. "I feel like clay is very strength-reliant," Osaka said. "It's something that I prioritized this year and I think it's working. I'm going to keep pushing forward that way. I'll let you know what happens in Roland Garros."
