Consultation on bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas welcomed by Marine Conservation Society

A consultation launched by the UK’s Marine Management Organisation has been welcomed by the Marine Conservation Society.

The MMO has launched the consultation to explore whether bottom towed fishing activity should be prohibited in four Marine Protected Areas where there is evidence they harm wildlife or damage habitats.

Earlier this year the Marine Conservation Society released its Marine unProtected Areas report which found that bottom towed fishing gear was being used in almost all of the UK’s protected areas designated specifically to safeguard the seabed. As a result, the charity called for a ban on bottom trawling in these areas intended to protect the seabed. The consultation is a positive step in the right direction.

The charity’s report found that bottom trawl and dredge vessels spent at least 89,894 hours fishing the seabed inside Marine Protected Areas between 2015 and 2018.

Banning the bottom trawling of these protected seabeds would not only be positive for restoration efforts, but would be climate smart. Not only does bottom trawling damage vital underwater habitats but it also churns up the seafloor, releasing carbon into the ocean and, potentially, the atmosphere. It’s estimated that carbon emissions released by bottom trawling across the UK continental shelf between 2016 and 2040 could cost up to £9 billion to mitigate in other areas of the economy.

One of the four sites being considered is Dogger Bank, off the east of England, which is 12,300 km square of seabed – half the size of Wales. The Dogger Bank Marine Protected Area has the capacity to store the most carbon of all UK Marine Protected Areas– equivalent to 31,000 return flights from London to Sydney. Banning bottom trawling in this area alone would have a huge impact on wildlife recovery and the limiting of carbon emissions.

Dr Jean-Luc Solandt, Principle Specialist in Marine Protected Areas at the Marine Conservation Society said: “You’d think that Marine Protected Areas are, in fact, protected. However, just 5% currently ban bottom trawling, which has been shown time and again to damage the fragile sea floor. Whilst in the past the UK have had to get full agreement from other EU member states for bans on fishing, now we can act independently with the powers provided by the Fisheries Act.

“This announcement – whilst only for 4 of a possible 74 areas of protection – is an encouraging start. After years of heavily degrading our seas are we finally starting to see measures that can provide the green shoots of recovery?”

Within five years of protection from bottom trawling, animals in three UK and Isle of Man Marine Protected Areas were found to be larger and more diverse. When areas of sea around the world were fully protected, biodiversity was found to increase by an average of 21%. Alongside flora and fauna bouncing back, carbon stores are left undisturbed and are able to build back up, as new life emerges on the seabed.

For more information about the work of the Marine Conservation Society visit their website by clicking here.