UK proposes wider ban on destructive ocean bottom trawling

The ban on a “destructive” type of fishing that drags large nets along the seabed could be extended in English waters, the government said.

The proposal would extend the ban on trawling of 18,000 km2 to 48,000 km2 (around 18,500 square miles) of the UK offshore areas which are already designated as protected. The plan is subject to a 12 -week industry consultation.

An Ocean conference is starting today in France in the middle of the warnings of Sir David Porteborough that the lower trawling destroys the areas of the seabed and marine life.

A major objective of the conference is that more countries, including the United Kingdom, to ratify a treaty to put a third of international waters in protected areas by 2030.

Speaking before the summit, Sir David told Prince William that he was “dismayed” by the fishing method.

The last documentary of the naturalist with David Attentborough showed new images of a lower trawling bulldozer through the silt on the seabed and to collect species without discrimination.

Last week, deputies of the environmental audit committee renewed calls to prohibit trading, dredging and mining for aggregates on the seabed in what is known as marine areas (AMP).

The extension proposed by the government would cover 41 from the 181 MPa of England and protect rare marine animals and the delicate seabed on which they count.

He indicates that he has carried out detailed assessments in the damage caused to habitats and species.

The environment secretary, Steve Reed, said “without urgent action, our oceans will be irreversibly destroyed”.

Mike Cohen, director general of the National Federation of Fisheries’ Organizations in the United Kingdom, described the decision as “disappointing” and postponed allegations of environmental impact.

“The trawling does not damage most of the seabed. Chaltles penetrate very little sediments, if at all, in most regions and trawling has been carried out for more than 100 years,” he said.

“The sensitive characteristics of the seabed present today have survived more than a century of fishing, which suggests that trawling does not occur in these places, or that they are not sensitive,” added Mr. Cohen.

A 12 -week consultation will take place until September 1 and will seek the opinions of marine industry and fishing.

Ariana Densham, head of oceans in Greenpeace UK, said that the consultation was “ultimately a reduction for a long time in a process created by the previous government”.

Wildlife Trust said he hoped that the prolonged ban would be implemented “quickly”.

He would be a “win-win for nature and the climate,” added the Director of Policy and Public Affairs for the trust, Joan Edwards.

Pressure is also based for more countries to ratify the High Sea Treaty at the Ocean conference in Nice.

The treaty was agreed by 193 countries two years ago to put 30% of international waters in protected areas.

The treaty will not come into force as long as it is not ratified by 60 countries. It was announced at the opening of the conference that 15 additional countries had ratified the treaty on Monday, but that this only brings the figure to 47. The United Kingdom is one of those countries which has not yet ratified.

President Macron, whose country co -hosted the conference with Costa Rica, shared the news with the governments present at the conference – he was greeted by the acclamations of the room.

He and his counterpart President Rodrigo Chaves also spoke of their concern with regard to the exploitation of the deep sea and called for a moratorium.

“The ocean is not for sale. We are talking about a common good,” said President Macron. “I think it is the madness of launching a predatory economic action that will disturb the deep seabed, disturbs biodiversity, destroy it.”

He spoke in reference to the decision taken by President Trump in April to start delivering permits to drill in the deep sea – in the hope that critical minerals could be recovered.

This goes against an international negotiation of a decade to obtain a global agreement on how the resources of the deep sea could be shared. China called this decision at the time was a “violation” of international law.

More than 2,000 marine scientists have recommended that exploration in the deep sea will temporarily be stopped until additional research is to understand the potential impacts on ecosystems.