Bottom trawling ban: EAC Chair comments

The announcement was made by Environment Secretary Steve Reed ahead of the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, which began today.

Chair comment

Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, Toby Perkins MP, said: 

“I am delighted that the Government is pressing ahead with plans to ban bottom trawling in offshore Marine Protected Areas, following recommendations made by the Committee just a few days ago, which reflected much of the evidence we heard during our inquiry.

As we made clear in our report last week, practices like bottom trawling that damage the seabed undermine the very marine protection that MPAs exist to defend. This is the right decision, and I thank the Government for engaging with our report. 

The Government have said they will now consult to hear the views of the marine and fishing industry. We understand these changes are important and must be done carefully, but every further day of delay risks further destruction of our seabed and so this must be concluded swiftly and decisively, to avoid more damage to marine habitats.”

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