England Plans to Ban Destructive Bottom Trawling in Half of Protected Marine Areas
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📰 The quick summary: England plans to ban destructive bottom trawling in half of its protected seas, covering 30,000 square kilometers of ecologically sensitive seabed habitats.
📈 One key stat: Fishing vessels with bottom-towed gear were active in the UK’s offshore Marine Protected Areas for 33,000 hours in 2023 – equivalent to four years of continuous fishing activity.
💬 One key quote: “Bottom trawling is damaging our precious marine wildlife and habitats. Without such action, our oceans would be irreversibly destroyed.”
1️⃣ The big picture: The British government has proposed banning bottom trawling in 41 marine protected areas across England’s seas. This destructive fishing practice involves dragging weighted nets over vulnerable seabed habitats, causing significant damage to marine ecosystems. The plan would protect 30,000 square kilometers of ecologically sensitive areas, which combined with existing bans would shield a total of 48,000 square kilometers from this harmful practice. The announcement comes ahead of a UN ocean summit in Nice focused on tackling declining ocean health.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: This ban will provide crucial protection for vulnerable marine habitats and the wildlife they support. Marine ecosystems will have a chance to recover and regenerate without the devastating impacts of weighted trawling nets. The proposal also helps preserve carbon stored in seabed muds, creating a win-win situation for both biodiversity and climate protection. Environmental groups have welcomed the move as an invaluable lifeline for England’s seas after years of campaigning for better management of protected marine areas.
3️⃣ What’s next: The government will launch a 12-week consultation on the proposals beginning June 9th. If fully implemented, the measures would rapidly apply to the designated areas. The plan will be formally announced by Environment Secretary Steve Reed, who will represent the UK at the upcoming UN Ocean Conference in Nice.
Read the full story here: The Guardian – Campaigners hail plan to ban bottom trawling in half of England’s protected seas
