Marine Life & Conservation
Marine unProtected Areas: UK’s damaged seas still missing crucial protection
Broken promises by UK Government leaves England’s seabed MPAs at risk
- Over 5,000 hours of fishing in Dogger Bank MPA in the last year
- 10 Minute Rule on bottom-trawling in MPAs on 1st March by Chris Grayling MP
The Marine Conservation Society’s analysis of fishing activity in Marine Protected Areas over the last year highlights the urgent need for protection of England’s seas in more than name.
A slew of broken promises and delayed actions are putting our seas at risk as damaging fishing continues to degrade England’s fragile seabed habitats.
The Marine Conservation Society is calling for the public’s support in banning damaging fishing, like bottom trawling, from England’s offshore MPAs designed to protect the seabed.
On 1st February 2021, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) launched a public consultation on a proposed byelaw. This byelaw would protect the Dogger Bank Marine Protected Area (MPA), alongside three other sites, from bottom-towed fishing gear. Usually these are passed within 12 months by the Secretary of State. Yet over one year later, no management measures have been put in place.
Dr Jean-Luc Solandt, Principal Specialist in MPAs at the Marine Conservation Society said: “There is no sign of the promised timetable to ensure management for England’s entire list of 40 offshore MPAs. At current rates, it will take over a decade to get management in place. MPAs are currently a lie. For the sake of humanity, society, climate, food security, clean waters and indeed the law – we need action immediately.”
On 1st March 2022, Chris Grayling MP will raise a 10 Minute Rule motion in Parliament calling for fast-paced action from Government. Grayling will propose a bill to ban bottom trawling in MPAs, except for in exceptional circumstances, within 12 months.
The 10 Minute Rule illustrates support within the Conservative party and beyond for action on Marine Protected Areas. But while further delays are faced, damaging fishing activities, like bottom trawling, continue to degrade fragile seabed habitats.
The Marine Conservation Society’s analysis of fishing activity in Dogger Bank over the last year found fishing activity, like bottom trawling, had increased fivefold compared to historical rates. While the site’s protection was being discussed, it was in fact even more exploited.
Dogger Bank MPA has the capacity to store the most carbon of all English MPAs – equivalent to 2.5 million return trips from London to Sydney.
While bottom-towed fishing gear is still permitted in sites like Dogger Bank, more carbon is released from the seabed into the ocean, reducing its ability to buffer the effects of climate change. Since 1st February 2021, Dogger Bank has experienced 5,055 hours* of fishing, including bottom trawling.
Located about 120 kilometres east of Hull, Dogger Bank has been heavily fished for decades. Authorities first recognised the need for better protections in 2011, but failed to act.
Frith Dunkley, MPA Researcher at the Marine Conservation Society said: “In the year since this byelaw banning bottom-towed fishing gear from Dogger Bank MPA was proposed, the sandbank habitat and the species it was designated to protect have continued to be damaged by fishing activity, degrading marine life and removing ecologically important species such as sandeels.
“At 5 times the size of the Lake District National Park, Dogger Bank could be the first large offshore Marine Protected Area in England where a ban on damaging fishing methods is put in place. Mussels, oysters, fish, seabirds, whales, dolphins, seals and more would all benefit from the proposed management measures. It’s time for them to actually be put into action!”
Dr Solandt said: “Government inaction on marine protection goes beyond Dogger Bank. As of late 2021, just 6% of England’s Marine Protected Areas, designated to protect the seabed, are legally protected from damaging fishing activity, like bottom trawling. There have been countless international commitments to deliver well-managed protected areas across Europe since 2010. But here we are, 12 years on, with little to show for it.”
To read the Marine Conservation Society’s 2021 Marine unProtected Areas report, and learn more about fishing in Marine Protected Areas, please visit the charity’s website.
After a two-year tour of UK art galleries, community spaces and aquariums, the Shark Trust’s acclaimed Oceanic31 exhibition takes its final bow at the Royal Geographical Society later this month. And the unique collection of artwork, depicting 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays, donated by 31 artists, is now open for bids from art lovers and shark enthusiasts. The online auction, launched today, will close on the 7th December at 8pm (BST). The money raised will support the Shark Trust Oceanics Programme.
People can now bid on 27 of the artworks by visiting this website:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
It is a chance to own a beautiful piece of original art and to support the Shark Trust. The timing of the auction also means that these would make a very special Christmas gift for any shark-lover.
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- Bigeye Thresher Shark by Janina Rossiter
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- Carcharodon carcharias by Jimmy Higgs
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- Croc VR 2030 by Tom Mead
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- Oceanic Whitetip by ATM
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- Silky Street by ScapaJoe
The diversity of pieces mirrors that of the sharks and rays they represent. You can bid on paintings, digital creations, sculptures, mixed media and more. You can pick your favourite artist or species of shark. Or you can select the perfect artwork to make a statement in your home or office. Whichever you choose, you will be supporting the work to protect these amazing animals.
One of the pieces of art has been selected to be auctioned live by Steve Backshall at the For the Love of Sharks event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 29th November. In addition to this, two further pieces will be raffled at this event, giving people a chance to win an incredible piece of shark art. For the Love of Sharks is the Shark Trust’s flagship evening. A night to celebrate sharks. Steve Backshall is the headline speaker at this event that will see other prominent shark advocates join him on stage.
Tickets for the event can be snapped up here:
https://thesharktrust.org.uk/Event/flos24
Those that would like to see the Oceanic 31 exhibition have one final chance. It is being displayed at the Pavilion at the Royal Geographic Society from 26th November until the 7th December. Entry is free.
Find out more here:
https://www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/oceanic-31
Paul Cox, Shark Trust CEO, Said “This exhibition has given us the opportunity to reach out to a new audience. And inspire more people with the wonderful sharks and rays on which our Big Shark Pledge campaign is based. We are immensely grateful to the 31 artists who have worked so hard to create these works.”
Bid for your favourite Oceanic 31 artwork here:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
Banner Image: Smooth Hammerhead by Alicia Hayden
Until 28 November, prizes worth a massive £10,000 – including experiences, products and tuition – feature in a line-up of items that can be won for £5 in an online prize draw to celebrate Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation’s 20th anniversary and help generate crucial funds for the future.
Top of the list of prizes is the chance to spend time with adventurer and wildlife expert Steve Backshall, a workout session with Nat Geo star Aldo Kane, a kayaking trip alongside white-water expert and diver Sal Montgomery and a Zoom call with ‘shark whisperer’ Cristina Zenato.
On top of that, some of the most admired companies in the diving and scuba industry have been quick to support the charity with fabulous prizes that make the £5 ticket price worth more than just a flutter.
Master Liveaboards, BSAC, Midlands Diving Chamber, Go Freediving and Blue Shark Snorkel have all generously donated experience prizes, while celebrated photographer Alex Mustard has donated a print and artists Scott Gleed and Olivier Leger have donated a sculpture and illustration to help boost the fundraising pot.
Fourth Element has donated Ocean Positive gear and LA watch company Nodus has gifted the charity a stunning dive watch. For land lovers, the charity has included a five star London hotel stay at Bankside Hotel plus a family visit to Longleat Safari Park in the roster of prizes.
Campaign director for Bite-Back, Graham Buckingham, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed with support from companies and individuals that we truly admire and who have supported us on our 20 year journey and we’re truly grateful to them all. While we feel incredibly proud of our achievements over the past two decades – and we are super excited about the next chapter – this prize draw isn’t a vanity project. It represents a real lifeline to our work and important advancements in the global protection of sharks. So we hope divers, dive clubs and even bargain hunters grab some tickets to make this a massive success.”
The charity hopes that the prize draw will generate crucial funds to launch a brand new, ground-breaking, campaign to enrol the public and increase support for the protection of sharks around the world.
To enter the competition visit www.bite-back.com/prizedraw. The prize winners will be announced on 1 December 2024.
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