The recovery of rare, threatened and important habitats and species in English waters is another step closer from today (Friday 22 March 2024).
A new byelaw protecting an area of almost 4000 square km of our seas from damaging fishing activity is now in force. The bylaw prohibits the use of bottom towed gear in specific areas within 13 English offshore MPAs that contain valuable reef and rocky habitats.
It sets a good precedent, bottom towing wrecks havoc on unstudied ecosystems.
Having seen the effect first hand (I scuba dive in UK waters) I can truthfully say the effect is horrific. Such a bad case of “out of sight, out of mind”.
Imagine harvesting a natural landscape with bulldozers.