Quote from Alex bobby on June 9, 2025, 11:10 AM

A Golden Opportunity: UK Moves to Ban Bottom Trawling in More Marine Protected Areas

The United Kingdom has announced an ambitious plan to expand its ban on bottom trawling in dozens of marine protected areas (MPAs), marking a pivotal moment in global ocean conservation. The announcement was made as world leaders and environmental advocates gathered in Nice for the third United Nations Oceans Conference (UNOC), intensifying pressure on governments to act decisively for marine protection.

Bottom Trawling and the Marine Crisis

Bottom trawling — a method of fishing that scrapes the ocean floor with heavy nets — is notorious for its environmental destructiveness. It disturbs fragile marine ecosystems, destroys seafloor habitats, and results in significant bycatch. Despite this, the practice remains widespread, even in designated MPAs, which are supposed to safeguard the ocean’s most ecologically sensitive areas.

Until now, only four out of the UK’s 377 MPAs have been fully protected from bottom-towed fishing gear, covering about 18,000 square kilometres. Under the new proposal, the UK government aims to extend protections to an additional 41 MPAs — potentially safeguarding over 30,000 square kilometres, or roughly half of all English MPAs.

“This is a golden opportunity to safeguard marine sanctuaries from the most damaging fishing practices,” said Hugo Tagholm, Executive Director of Oceana UK. “If fully implemented, this could be a lifeline for England’s seas, which are vital to our climate resilience and biodiversity.”

The Road to Implementation

Environment Secretary Steve Reed emphasised the urgency of the move, stating, “Bottom trawling is damaging our precious marine wildlife and habitats. Without urgent action, our oceans will be irreversibly destroyed.”

The first step in enacting the new protections is a public consultation, launched on 9 June and running until 1 September. The consultation will gather feedback from marine stakeholders, including fisheries and conservation experts, to ensure that the ban is well-informed and appropriately enforced.

If implemented, the ban would protect an array of habitats such as subtidal sandbanks, mudflats, and gravels, and benefit a range of marine life — including lobsters, clams, soft corals, and langoustines.

The NGO Response: Optimism Meets Caution

While conservationists are applauding the announcement, they remain cautious, warning that bold promises must be followed by concrete enforcement.

“The government should now strengthen the ban to cover all parts of our marine protected areas, and other types of destructive industrial fishing like supertrawlers and fly-shooters,” said Ariana Densham, Head of Oceans at Greenpeace UK. “Only this will ensure our marine ecosystems are protected in reality — not just on paper.”

Joan Edwards of The Wildlife Trusts called the ban “a win-win for both nature and the climate,” emphasising the critical role MPAs play in storing carbon in seafloor sediments.

Making Waves in Pop Culture: The Bottom Line

To coincide with UNOC and boost public awareness, the Blue Marine Foundation released a satirical short film titled The Bottom Line. Starring Stephen Fry and White Lotus actor Theo James, the film critiques bottom trawling by illustrating its impact through a fine-dining scenario gone grotesquely wrong.

“Having had a load of bycatch dumped on me, it really drove home how grotesque and devastating bottom trawling is,” said James, who is an ambassador for the charity alongside Fry.

The film aims to bridge the gap between policy and public consciousness — a necessary strategy as governments often fall short of delivering on conservation commitments.

A European Perspective: The UK Leads, But Others Catch Up

The UK’s move puts pressure on other European countries to step up their efforts. France, which co-hosted UNOC3, recently pledged to ban harmful human activities in 4% of its mainland waters. However, this falls short of a full ban on bottom trawling in all MPAs.

Environmental groups like ClientEarth have welcomed the UK and French updates but insist that effective enforcement is the next critical step. “We also need to see these bans effectively enforced,” said ClientEarth CEO Laura Clarke.

Meanwhile, Greece has taken a pioneering stance by becoming the first European country to commit to a ban on bottom trawling in all its marine parks by 2026. Sweden has promised to ban the practice in all territorial waters starting next month.

Under the EU’s 2023 Marine Action Plan, member states are supposed to phase out bottom trawling in all MPAs by 2030. But NGOs say no country currently has a concrete plan to do so. Last week, legal threats were issued against Denmark, the Netherlands, and Spain for continuing to allow widespread bottom trawling in their protected waters.

Conclusion

The UK’s proposal to expand its ban on bottom trawling marks a watershed moment in ocean conservation, offering a genuine chance to turn promises into lasting protections. But conservationists warn that the work doesn’t end with announcements and consultations — it begins there. As UNOC shines a global spotlight on ocean health, the challenge now is to ensure that bold pledges are followed by bold action.

The tide is turning, and with continued pressure from NGOs, public voices, and committed policymakers, the UK has the potential to lead a transformative shift in how we protect our oceans — for nature, climate, and generations to come.