Uk Proposes Wider Ban On Destructive Ocean Bottom Trawling

A prohibition connected a "destructive" type of sportfishing that drags ample nets on nan seafloor could beryllium extended crossed English waters, nan authorities has said.

The connection would grow nan prohibition connected bottommost trawling from 18,000km2 to 48,000km2 (around 18,500 sq miles) of nan UK's offshore areas that are already designated arsenic protected. The scheme is taxable to a 12-week manufacture consultation.

A UN Ocean Conference originates successful France coming amid warnings from Sir David Attenborough that bottommost trawling is destroying areas of nan seabed and marine life.

A awesome extremity of nan convention is for much countries, including nan UK, to ratify a pact to put a 3rd of world waters into protected areas by 2030.

Speaking earlier nan summit, Sir David told Prince William he was "appalled" by nan sportfishing method.

The naturalist's latest documentary Ocean With David Attenborough showed caller footage of a bottommost trawling nett bulldozing done silt connected nan seafloor and scooping up type indiscriminately.

Last week, MPs connected nan Environmental Audit Committee renewed calls to prohibition bottommost trawling, dredging and mining for aggregates connected nan seabed successful what are known arsenic Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

The hold projected by nan authorities would screen 41 of England's 181 MPAs, and would protect uncommon marine animals and nan delicate seabed they trust upon.

It says it has carried retired elaborate assessments into nan harms caused to habitats and species.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed said "without urgent action our oceans will beryllium irreversibly destroyed".

The BBC has reached retired to nan UK's National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations for comment.

Some sportfishing communities person pushed backmost connected nan assertion that bottommost trawling needs to beryllium banned successful each MPAs. They opportunity that it isn't destructive unless done successful nan incorrect place, and that it's an businesslike measurement to nutrient food.

A 12-week consultation will tally until 1 September and will activity nan views of nan marine and sportfishing industry.

Ariana Densham, caput of oceans astatine Greenpeace UK, said nan consultation was "ultimately a long-overdue completion of a process started by nan erstwhile government".

The Wildlife Trust said it hoped nan extended prohibition would beryllium put successful spot "rapidly".

It would beryllium a "win-win for some quality and nan climate," added nan trust's head of argumentation and nationalist affairs, Joan Edwards.

Pressure is besides building for much countries to ratify nan High Seas Treaty astatine nan Ocean Conference successful Nice.

The pact was agreed by 193 countries 2 years agone to put 30% of world waters into protected areas.

The pact will not travel into unit until it is ratified by 60 countries. It was announced astatine nan opening of nan convention that an further 15 countries had ratified nan pact connected Monday, but that only brings nan fig to 47. The UK is among those countries that has yet to ratify.

President Macron, whose state is co-hosting nan convention pinch Costa Rica, shared nan news pinch governments successful attendance astatine nan convention - it was met pinch cheers from nan room.

He and his counterpart President Rodrigo Chaves some besides said of their interest astir heavy oversea mining, and called for a moratorium.

"The water is not for sale. We're talking astir a communal shared good," President Macron said."I deliberation it's madness to motorboat predatory economical action that will disrupt nan heavy seabed, disrupt biodiversity, destruct it."

He was speaking successful reference to nan determination made by President Trump successful April to statesman issuing permits to drill successful nan heavy oversea - successful nan dream that captious minerals could beryllium retrieved.

This goes against a decade-long world speech to get world statement connected really immoderate resources from nan heavy oversea could beryllium shared. China called nan move, astatine nan time, was a "violation" of world law.

More than 2,000 marine scientists person recommended that heavy oversea exploration is temporarily stopped until location is further investigation to understand nan imaginable impacts connected ecosystems.