Bycatch Deaths in Pacific Trawl Fisheries Are Higher Than Reported
In British Columbia’s trawl fleet, non-target species such as halibut, salmon, sharks, skates, crabs, and deep-sea invertebrates are routinely caught and discarded. Though industry practices frame these releases as “non-lethal,” the biological reality is stark: many of these discarded marine animals do not survive.
How Trawlers “Go Dark” Despite Supposed Strict Regulation
Fishing vessels around the world are routinely “going dark” by turning off their automatic identification system (AIS) transponders – and British Columbia’s trawler fleet is no exception. This has allowed industrial trawlers to operate out of sight in sensitive habitats, encouraging a pattern of exploitation along our coast. What Are AIS Transponders and Why They […]
BC Trawlers Pressured Observers to Not Report 140 Million Pounds of Bycatch
When Monitoring Breaks The federal government requires every industrial trawler in BC to carry an independent at-sea observer to monitor bycatch. Former observers told The Narwhal that they were bullied, isolated, and threatened by crew members onboard trawlers, to the point of fearing for their safety. “You’re out there alone.” Jon Eis, a veteran observer, […]
Dragged to Death: New Report Reveals the Full Impact of Industrial Trawling on BC’s Coast
Industrial bottom trawling has long operated out of public view, but Pacific Wild’s recently released report, “Dragged to Death”, is shining a light on its scale and ecological cost. Using satellite tracking data, Pacific Wild reveals that just nine super trawlers have dragged 89,700 square kilometres of BC’s seafloor over 13 years of dragging activity. […]
UK Proposes Expanding Ban on Bottom Trawling. Will BC Follow?
As global concern over bottom trawling intensifies, last week the UK government proposed extending its ban on the controversial fishing method across an additional 30,000 square kilometres of offshore protected waters, bringing the total to 48,000 km². The decision was announced ahead of the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, where Sir David Attenborough condemned the […]
The Cost of Bottom Trawling: “Marine Deforestation”, Massive Bycatch, and Losses of €11 Billion a Year in Europe
Scientists and marine researchers are calling for stronger regulations on bottom trawling in the UK and Europe, citing its damaging impact on seafloor habitats—an effect increasingly likened to marine deforestation—with estimated annual costs of up to €11 billion due to environmental and economic losses. The Impact of Bottom Trawling Bottom trawling has long been under […]
Scotland Launches Consultation on Banning Trawlers in Marine Protected Areas
Scotland has launched talks on restricting or banning trawlers in 20 Marine Protected Areas off its coast, joining a growing list of countries that are working to protect their seabed from bottom trawling. If the Scottish ban proceeds it would boost protections in its existing MPA network. Scotland says its MPAs now protect 37% of […]
Sweden Announces Landmark Ban on Bottom Trawling
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said that the ban on bottom trawling will apply to country’s marine protected areas (MPAs) and all territorial waters (up to 12 nautical miles).
France’s Protest Over UK Bottom-Trawling Ban is Being Labelled “Hypocrisy”
France has raised objections to a new UK regulation banning bottom trawling in certain territorial waters, sparking a controversy that has drawn accusations of hypocrisy from environmentalists. The UK implemented this prohibition last month, targeting 13 marine protected areas which cover a total of 4,000 square kilometers. This measure, which affects both British and EU […]
Study Raises Alarm on Carbon Emissions from Bottom Trawling in Oceans
Did you know that bottom trawling can result in as many carbon emissions as the aviation industry per year?