Bottom trawling is a fishing method used to catch fish and other seafood.

Sir David Attenborough's latest natural history film, Ocean, has shone a light on the horrendous impact bottom trawling has in the sea, but also the potential for marine life to recover if this is stopped.

This hugely destructive process drags heavy chains across the seabed, bulldozing fragile marine habitats, releasing carbon from the seabed and indiscriminately capturing and killing marine life in its path. This fishing method is often used to catch just one or two species of fish, but so many other sea creatures are caught up in this practice. Over three quarters of what is caught is thrown away. 

The impacts are not obvious - but out of sight can't mean out of mind anymore.

On Monday 9th June the UK Government announced a consultation to ban bottom trawling in 41 of offshore Marine Protected Areas in England. Areas which have been designated to protect the seabed. This consultation is a great step forward BUT we must make sure the proposed measures are implemented as soon as possible and across the whole protected area.

Please tell Minister Hardy you support measures to ban bottom trawling in seabed Marine Protected Areas, which must be put in place as soon as possible.

We know that properly protected MPAs allow nature to recover, and safeguard carbon, and they can also support sustainable fisheries in the long term. We need to work together to ensure a just transition to a healthy ocean and better future for all.

Marine Protected Areas are supposed to protect marine areas from damaging activities, but incredibly, this destructive fishing practice is STILL being allowed in many of these sites. This consultation can make this stop - you can help today!

Sir David has thrust this story onto the world stage. Together we can save the sea from this unnecessary, destructive activity. 

“If we save the sea, we save our world. After a lifetime of filming our planet, I’m sure that nothing is more important.” Sir David Attenborough

You can help today.

Let the Minister know it's time for a ban of bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas where the seabed should be protected .  

We’ve made it easy by writing most of the email for you, so you can focus on adding your own words by answering the question 'why bottom trawling should be banned'.  We know that people adding their own comment helps make a really big impact. For example, have you seen Sir David Attenborough's 'Ocean'? How did it make you feel?  Get involved today.

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