ClientEarth and BLOOM Association have initiated legal proceedings against the French government to end the practice of illegal and destructive bottom trawling in the Mediterranean. This action highlights the urgent need for EU countries to comply with the European ban on harmful fishing practices, particularly within Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

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In 2006, the EU introduced a ban on environmentally damaging fishing techniques, such as bottom trawling, within MPAs that contain vulnerable marine habitats. However, despite requests from ClientEarth and BLOOM in May for France to reconsider three national laws that permit bottom trawling in these sensitive areas, their calls were ignored. This blatant disregard for legally protected zones has led to the legal challenge, which aims to ensure that marine areas designated as "protected" are truly safeguarded from harmful practices.