Mobilising global efforts to tackle bottom trawling
Dear TBT Coalition supporter,
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Against a backdrop of increasingly frequent extreme weather events, accelerating extinction rates and rapidly rising ocean temperatures, it is becoming increasingly obvious that business-as-usual bottom trawling cannot continue. We must come together to mitigate the damage of climate stresses on our ocean floor, coral reefs and vulnerable ecosystems.
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Bottom trawlers produce more waste than any other fishing practice by discarding a staggering volume and diversity of unwanted marine life. They reduce complex seabeds to rubble and pump out vast quantities of CO2 into our atmosphere. Low-impact fishing methods, on the other hand, balance environmental impacts with social and economic benefits for coastal communities.
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People and communities have had enough and are mobilising to tackle bottom trawling across the globe. The Transfrom Bottom Trawling Coalition now represents over 70 organisations from 37 countries that have come together to tackle bottom trawling and urge a fair transition to more sustainable fishing practices.
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In this issue, we spotlight members’ work protesting destructive fishing in Indonesia, upholding a bottom trawling ban in Brazil, sharing new research in Ghana and calling out illegal discarding in Scotland. We also celebrate the publication of a new report into the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) sustainability certification, which calls for it to stop certifying destructive bottom trawl fisheries and aim for a higher standard of sustainability. As usual, we have also compiled global bottom trawling news from the past couple of months to help you keep abreast of new developments.
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It can be hard to stay optimistic in these times of crisis. The abundance and diversity of marine life enjoyed by previous generations is dwindling and the oceans of the future will look very different if decision-makers fail to act. But our members’ commitment to ambitious, holistic and lasting impact inspires us every day. Together, their efforts are turning the tide on trawling; pushing it out of important coastal ecosystems and safeguarding the livelihoods of fishing communities that depend on them.
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We hope you can also take inspiration from their recent achievements and join us in the movement to transform bottom trawling and restore our oceans.
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The Transform Bottom Trawling Coalition team.
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A shrimp trawler at sea in the Gulf of California © Greenpeace / Alex Hofford
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Coalition Updates
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Traditional fishers in North Sumatra protest against destructive fishing gear
Hundreds of small-scale fishers held a peaceful demonstration in front of the DPRD (Provincial Legislative Council) office in Tanjungbalai, North Sumatra on Monday 7th of August 2023 to demand action against destructive fishing practices.
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In collaboration with the Indonesian Traditional Fishers' Union (KNTI), fishers called on the government to protect inshore fishing grounds from destructive bottom trawling and seining - locally known as cantrang - due to their impacts on traditional Tanjungbalai Asahan fishers. The methods have led to a decrease in catches for fishers and more competition over fishing grounds.
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Imam Azhari SP, Chair of the Tanjungbalai Asahan Fisherfolk, said “Fisherfolk are already struggling to catch fish, and the government is introducing regulations that make it even more difficult for traditional fishing communities.”
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The fishers' protest was acknowledged by the leadership of the DPRD. Ms. Artati, Head of Commission B for the legislative council in Tanjungbalai, said “We are looking for a solution together with fishers who must be able to go to sea safely, so tomorrow we will convey this to the Marine and Fishery Service of the North Sumatra Province and the central government.”
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The Indonesian Traditional Fishers' Union is working with fishers across the country to secure their rights and tackle industrial destructive fisheries - like bottom trawling - that are undermining its members’ traditional livelihoods.
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Fishers gathered outside the Provincial Legislative Council office in Tanjungbalai, North Sumatra © KNTI
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Brazil’s Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Bottom Trawling in Rio Grande do Sul
In a 9-1 vote, Brazil’s Supreme Court upheld a law in the state of Rio Grande do Sul that bans industrial bottom trawling.
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Prior to the 2018 ban, bottom trawling was depleting fish stocks, threatening marine biodiversity, and destroying habitats, all of which the local community relies on to support their livelihoods.
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Oceana Brazil campaigned alongside artisanal fishers to pass this law in 2018, which safeguards the entire state’s 630-kilometre-long coast and the first 20 kilometres offshore (more than 13,000 square kilometres). Since then, local communities have seen many fish stocks recover. The Supreme Court’s decision reinforces the importance of this law to ensure sustainable livelihoods for more than 20,000 families who rely on artisanal fishing in Rio Grande do Sul.
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You can learn more about the campaign in Rio Grande do Sul by watching the coalition’s previous learning webinar.
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Juvenile fish and sharks are among the catches landed by bottom trawlers in Rio Grande do Sul © Ivan Sarenas
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Talking trawling at the West African Marine Science Symposium
They shared the organisation’s progress towards protecting West and Central Africa’s aquatic megafauna, sharing scientific knowledge and building relationships with like-minded groups.
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During the program, AMMCO’s team highlighted their work monitoring and protecting Cameroon’s unique shark and ray populations using the SIREN app, fighting Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and supporting ocean literacy.
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A new report exposes sector-wide concerns about the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), including its certification of bottom trawl fisheries
A new report released by the On The Hook campaign presents sector-wide concerns about the MSC’s performance and standards. It concludes that the MSC is failing to keep up with the pace of change required to deliver sustainable seafood and issues urgent calls for reform.
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The report, which compiles inputs from public and expert stakeholders, includes an assessment of the MSC’s certification of bottom trawl fisheries. It found that the MSC has lost credibility as an indicator of sustainable fishing through its certification of large-scale industrial fisheries and those participating in harmful practices, such as bottom trawling and dredging.
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Through a sector-wide consultation, On The Hook found that 67% of respondents feel there are currently fishing types, practices and other activities certified by MSC that they consider inappropriate for a ‘sustainable’ fisheries programme. Examples of such practices include bottom trawling within marine protected areas (MPAs), bottom trawling in sensitive ecosystems over 200 metres deep and fishing in vulnerable ecosystems such as seamounts.
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Additionally, the report highlights the MCS’s failure to take carbon into account when assessing fishery sustainability: bottom trawling is the most fuel-intensive fishing practice and produces far more CO2 than low-impact methods.
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On The Hook has now published a roadmap to urge the MSC to adopt its recommendations and rebuild trust in its ecolabel.
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Trawlers busted for discarding critically endangered skate
A trawler in Scotland has been caught discarding large numbers of Critically Endangered flapper skate off the Isle of Gigha.
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In July, a local diver and marine ecologist from Sea Kintyre received a tip-off from Shark & Skate Citizen Science Scotland (SSCSS) about suspicious fishing activity on Gigha. He headed to the island to investigate, where he was shocked to find huge numbers of dead marine animals scattered on the seabed after being discarded by a fishing trawler.
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The footage he recorded - which has since been watched over 150,000 times on social media - shows dead flapper skate, which is extinct in large parts of its range following a long period of overexploitation. This has led to it being classified as ‘Critically Endangered’ by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
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Unlike more selective fishing methods like pots and lines, bottom trawlers cannot avoid catching skate and other endangered species as they scoop up everything in their path. Thanks to the diver, we have a rare insight into the true cost of inshore bottom trawling in Scotland.
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Follow Open Seas and the Our Seas coalition to follow this story and take action against inshore bottom trawling.
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Flapper skate were among fish found dead among alleged discarded prawns © Sea Kintyre / Peter Hume
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Fisher testimonies
In July the coalition launched an interactive online map to platform the voices of fishers and fishworkers whose livelihoods are affected by bottom trawling. As well as highlighting the ways in which bottom trawling affects other fishers, the map presents solutions that work for them, allowing users to take action after listening to fishers’ perspectives.
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We are working with fishers to gather new testimonies for the map, highlighting how bottom trawling affects fishers in different parts of the world. Explore the map to hear the testimonies and reach out to the coalition if you would like to help it grow.
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Bottom Trawling News
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Africa
New evidence collected by OCCRP indicates that two Chinese trawlers were fishing in Sierra Leone’s marine protected areas, where industrial fishing is forbidden.
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A study of five Senegalese fishermen reveals how demand for cheap, massively produced fish has driven migration to Spain in hopes of a brighter future, one that has yet to materialise.
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Bottom trawlers in Senegal © Blue Ventures
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Americas
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Global Seafood Alliance, USA
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In a new review paper published in the ICES Journal of Marine Science, researchers argue that well-managed bottom trawling produces sustainable and environmentally friendly food. The TBT Coalition is developing a response to the article to explore these findings further - read the next newsletter to find out more.
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A shrimp trawler at sea in the Gulf of California © Greenpeace / Alex Hofford
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Asia and Asia-Pacific
On Cambodia’s coast, a local NGO is building concrete underwater structures in an effort to deter destructive illegal trawlers.
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Scoop, Aotearoa New Zealand
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Greenpeace is renewing its call for a complete ban on destructive bottom trawling in the Hauraki Gulf marine park, following a government announcement that trawl methods will continue in parts of the Gulf.
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The Department of Environment has announced opposition to the implementation of trawling in the Persian Gulf.
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Juvenile fish landed in Thailand's bottom trawl fishery © Athit Perawongmetha / Greenpeace
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Europe
Overfishing and seabed trawling have decimated the native or common oyster in British waters.
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Through his underwater sculpture museum, Paolo Fanciulli highlights the destruction of big fishing’s supply chain.
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The Scottish government has been found to have acted unlawfully in granting licences for scallop dredging and bottom-trawling, following a judicial review brought by campaigners.
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Findings come from cost-benefit analysis of banning destructive industrial fishing practices in marine protected areas carried out by MCS.
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WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
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Send us bottom trawling news or events that you’d like us to amplify via social media or this newsletter!
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Copy and paste this social media post to help us spread the word to new audiences:
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Want to keep up to date on our journey to transform bottom trawling? Sign up for the TBT Coalition newsletter to hear from the global coalition working to tackle bottom trawling and restore our oceans. https://transformbottomtrawling.org
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