“A New Path Forward for Danish Fisheries”

For nearly four months now, negotiations have been underway around the Danish government’s proposal “A New Path Forward for Danish Fisheries” – a plan meant to make the fishing industry more sustainable, both in terms of CO₂e emissions and marine biodiversity.

But reaching an agreement has proven difficult. The reasons are many, but in short: the state of Danish fisheries is not great.

To understand the issue, it helps to break the sector into three categories:

1. Coastal fisheries – smaller boats with short trips, many of which use low-impact gear.
2. Offshore (demersal) fisheries – larger vessels with long trips, nearly all using bottom-trawling gear.
3. Pelagic fisheries – massive ships targeting herring, mackerel, and what used to be called “industrial fish” or even “trash fish”, now rebranded as “protein fish”. These typically use pelagic trawls and are generally considered less harmful.

As we’ve mentioned before, trawl fishing poses significant challenges. It results in high CO₂e emissions and puts enormous pressure on biodiversity. These issues are far less prominent in low-impact fisheries. Still, every part of the fishing industry needs reform and innovation.

Initially, the government tried taxing fuel for fishing vessels. This policy was introduced at the start of 2025 but immediately triggered a backlash from trawlers, auctions, and harbor authorities. Fishermen stopped landing their catch in Danish ports, and business quickly moved elsewhere – without the fishing itself becoming any more sustainable.

And since they no longer refueled in Denmark, the fuel tax didn’t generate any of the revenue that was supposed to fund the green transition of the industry.

In response, politicians scrapped the fuel tax to appease the outcry.

But here’s the catch: those funds were supposed to pay for the transformation from destructive bottom-trawling to low-impact fishing. Without them, there’s no money to drive the change.

ARRRRGH! And there you have it – a proper political knot.

We’re not here to point fingers. No politician dreams of taking away the livelihoods of people who’ve only followed the advice of banks and past governments – especially not in rural areas where such actions are political poison.

That’s why it’s so hard to reach a compromise in Parliament.

So what could it look like?

At our small editorial desk, we’ve decided to offer some perspective – to help politicians look past the current mess and start imagining how good it could be if they had the courage to make the tough decisions.

Because the ocean holds incredible potential – if only we dare to work with it instead of against it.

These problems aren’t unique to Denmark. Around the world, our seas are under pressure, and fishing is one of the biggest culprits.

If it weren’t for recent discoveries about the ocean’s ability to regenerate, things would be looking truly grim. But here’s the good news: the ocean is remarkably good at healing itself – far better than we previously believed. And the results come quickly, often within just a few years, if we simply leave it alone.

In Sir David Attenborough’s new film, Ocean, released at the age of 99, he shares the incredible discoveries scientists have made in fully protected marine zones – known as MPAs (Marine Protected Areas).

There are firsthand accounts from researchers and fishermen alike, describing how these areas are teeming with life just a few years after protection begins.

What’s more, this revival spreads. MPAs also help replenish the surrounding areas where fishing continues. Fishermen are now catching more fish outside these zones than before, simply because marine life is thriving next door.

A marine success story from Hawaii

The largest MPA in the world is Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in Hawaii – an enormous protected zone in the western Pacific. It spans 1.5 million square kilometers – larger than all of Germany. Established in 2000, it has since been expanded multiple times due to its overwhelming success for both nature and fisheries.

In fact, catches of all fish and shellfish species in nearby areas have gone up. For key species like yellowfin and bigeye tuna, landings have increased by 54% – even in areas as far as 370 kilometers from the protected zone.

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There’s no reason to view marine protected areas as something that opposes fishing. The two can absolutely coexist – and thrive – side by side.

Our proposal to policymakers: phase out bottom-trawling over the next 10 years, but begin establishing large, connected marine reserves now, so we can start reaping the benefits of abundance sooner rather than later.

The ocean’s ecosystems are simply wilder than those on land – far more powerful and resilient. They don’t need human help to regenerate. They just need us to leave them alone.

A small plea

So, dear politician. Look up from the paper. Just a little more, yes – open your mind. Don’t focus on how tough this may seem for people in rural communities right now. Help them through it – with money. Find the funds elsewhere. Because nothing is more important than saving the ocean – and the people who depend on it.

Focus instead on how amazing it will be when the fish return to the areas where they once thrived, and the harbors are once again filled with boats bringing in the fruits of the sea. Harbors with small-scale industry producing quality products – not just canned mackerel. Don’t flinch. Right now, you have the chance to make the best investment you’ll ever be offered: saving both the ocean and the future of fisheries.

The reason Sir David Attenborough decided to make this film – even though he’s clearly in the twilight of his on-camera career – is that a vote is taking place in mid-June on a UN resolution to protect 30% of international waters. And guess how much is protected today? Just 3%. That’s nowhere near enough.

We truly hope world leaders will vote “yes” – and then get serious about making it happen.

Well, that was a rather uplifting note to end on, wasn’t it?

We wholeheartedly recommend seeing Ocean in cinemas – it’s still playing around town.