A coalition of environmental organisations from across the UK and EU launched a Europe-wide campaign against demersal trawling in London last week, delivering a petition to Defra’s headquarters. A wide range of NGOs with a presence in the UK, including…
Legal challenge by Open Seas calls issuing of licences to scallop dredgers and bottom trawlers into question The Scottish government was still considering its reaction as FN went to press, nearly a week after a judge ruled that its licensing…
Vessels across continent sound ‘distress call’ on Europe Day Irish vessels were among those sounding their horns last week as fishermen from across the EU came together in protest at plans to further restrict bottom fishing. The noisy – and…
The MMO has launched a consultation on proposals to ban bottom trawling in another 13 MPAs in English waters, reports Tim Oliver. They are the latest stage in ‘an ambitious programme to protect all 40 English offshore MPAs from harmful…
Fisheries minister Victoria Prentis has stressed the need to work with the fishing industry when deciding on restrictions on bottom trawling in MPAs, reports Tim Oliver. Some MPs are calling for bans on all bottom mobile gear in all MPAs,…
A global study of the impacts of bottom trawling has found that seabeds are in good health where trawl fisheries are sustainably managed. The first study of its kind, undertaken by Bangor University with collaborating research institutes and published in…
European fishermen’s group Europêche has called for an urgent meeting with EU fisheries commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius, following the public demonstration by NGOs in Brussels at the end of last year calling for a ban on bottom trawling. The NGOs delivered…
The UK government’s intention to issue over 1,000 licences to EU and UK fishing vessels for 2022 permitting them to bottom trawl in UK Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is in contravention of the Habitats Regulations, which could make the licences…
Reducing the carbon footprint of bottom trawling requires bold action from governments, and collaboration between fishers and environmentalists, writes Dr Steve Rocliffe, senior technical adviser at Blue Ventures Greenhouse gas emissions from the global food system are one of the…
