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.
