Oil and gas extraction to be banned in protected areas off Germany

Oil and gas extraction is to be banned in six protected areas in German waters.

The German Cabinet on Wednesday approved a bill from the Environment Ministry to prohibit extraction in the areas, which are deemed in a "poor" environmental state.

Three of the areas are in the North Sea, with the other half in the Baltic Sea.

They cover just under a third - or 10,000 square kilometres - of Germany's Exclusive Economic Zone, a term referring to maritime areas in which countries have special rights governing the use of marine resources.

In the protected areas, restrictions on commercial fishing apply, but the new bill would outlaw the exploration and extraction of mineral resources, apart from sand and gravel, with exceptions possible only in certain cases.

Environmental organization Greenpeace said the plan is overdue but insufficient.

Species including harbour porpoises, seabirds and other marine creatures "need real refuges," said Greenpeace expert Daniela von Schaper. "As long as dredging, construction and fishing are allowed to continue in the protected areas, they are not effectively protected."

The ban would not affect the gas extraction project planned by Dutch company One-Dyas off the German North Sea island of Borkum.

However, access to other natural gas fields could be restricted by the ban.