EU launches plan to protect marine environment

The European Union today launched a plan to make all of the EU’s marine waters “environmentally healthy” by 2021.

EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas warned that some of Europe’s seas may already be close to the point-of-no-return as marine life is damage by toxic chemicals, excess nutrients, intensive fishing and climate change.

EU countries will be asked to work with neighbouring countries to find the best way to protect their marine region.

Dimas would not name the possible cost of the entire strategy saying he wanted to focus on what was achievable.

“The cost will be reasonable. It will not be excessive,” he said.