US Edition
UK proposes wider ban on destructive ocean bottom trawling
- On Monday 9th June, the UK government announced plans to prohibit harmful bottom trawling activities within approximately 30,000 square kilometers of protected marine environments in English waters, encompassing 41 designated Marine Protected Areas.
- The proposal responds to growing concerns expressed by figures such as Environment Secretary Steve Reed and coincides with the commencement of the third UN Ocean Conference being held in France this week.
- A 12-week public engagement process, organized by the Marine Management Organisation in collaboration with Defra, will run until 1st September to gather feedback from marine and fisheries stakeholders to support swift implementation.
- Steve Reed highlighted that dragging heavy nets along the seafloor is harming valuable marine ecosystems and species, warning that failure to act promptly could lead to permanent damage to ocean environments, underscoring the critical need for their protection.
- If implemented, these steps would extend protections beyond the current 18,000 km², aid in preserving rare species such as lobster and soft corals, and promote the recovery and resilience of marine life throughout English seas.
30 Articles
30 Articles
UK Government wants to end bottom trawling to protect MPAs sea beds; 12 weeks consultation
Bottom trawling – a fishing method that involves dragging large nets along the sea floor – could be banned across more vulnerable areas of English seas. The government is committed to protecting UK oceans and has outlined plans to ban the destructive practice in more Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The measures would help protect rare marine animals, as well as the delicate sea-beds on which they rely, from indiscriminate and potentially irreversi
On Monday, 9 June, the United Kingdom announced a plan to combat this controversial practice of scraping the seabed with a huge fishing net. The aim is, among other things, to protect marine habitats.
London wants to ban bottom trawling in half of its marine protected areas. Conversely, France has disappointed environmental NGOs.
This practice, which consists of scraping the seabed with a huge net to raise fish and crustaceans, accounts for almost a quarter of the world's wild fisheries.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
