Paris – 26.06.2026: In a landmark ruling, the Paris Administrative Court has obliged the French government to develop and implement a national action plan within one year to protect whales in the Bay of Biscay. This measure aims to reduce the bycatch of small whales, particularly common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, and harbour porpoises, which are endangered by fishing activities.
The lawsuit was filed by the environmental organizations France Nature Environnement, Défense des milieux aquatiques, and Sea Shepherd France, who welcomed the decision as “historic for species protection.” They sued the government to obtain compensation for ecological damage caused by bycatch in the region.
The court found that bycatch between 2018 and 2025 reached levels that endanger the conservation status of the affected species. It was determined that the estimated number of bycatch incidents for each of the three species exceeded thresholds required for the long-term viability of the populations. Part of this mortality was attributed to insufficient implementation of protective measures by the state.
As a result, the state’s responsibility for ecological damage caused by the impairment of the favorable conservation status of these protected species was recognized. To remedy this, the state was ordered to develop and implement a national action plan within one year. This plan should aim to improve the conservation status of common dolphins, harbour porpoises, and bottlenose dolphins and sustainably reduce bycatch in the Bay of Biscay. A fine of 15,000 euros per month applies in case of delay.
Additionally, the state was required to take measures within six months to reduce bycatch of these species already in the winter of 2026-2027. For any delay beyond this period, a fine of 500 euros per day will be imposed.
This decision follows previous court orders that obligated the state to close certain fishing zones in the Bay of Biscay for defined periods to limit small whale bycatch. Such measures had already been implemented in the winters of 2024 and 2025, with fishing closures lasting four weeks in January and February.
The current court rulings highlight the urgency with which whale protection in the Bay of Biscay must be advanced. The implementation of a comprehensive national action plan is seen as crucial to securing the long-term survival of these species in the region.