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| UK proposes wider ban on destructive ocean bottom trawling | UK proposes wider ban on destructive ocean bottom trawling |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| A ban on a "destructive" type of fishing that drags large nets along the seafloor could be extended across English waters, the government has said. | A ban on a "destructive" type of fishing that drags large nets along the seafloor could be extended across English waters, the government has said. |
| The proposal would expand the ban on bottom trawling from 18,000km2 to 48,000km2 (around 18,500 sq miles) of the UK's offshore areas that are already designated as protected. The plan is subject to a 12-week industry consultation. | The proposal would expand the ban on bottom trawling from 18,000km2 to 48,000km2 (around 18,500 sq miles) of the UK's offshore areas that are already designated as protected. The plan is subject to a 12-week industry consultation. |
| A UN Ocean Conference begins in France today amid warnings from Sir David Attenborough that bottom trawling is destroying areas of the seabed and marine life. | A UN Ocean Conference begins in France today amid warnings from Sir David Attenborough that bottom trawling is destroying areas of the seabed and marine life. |
| A major goal of the conference is for more countries, including the UK, to ratify a treaty to put a third of international waters into protected areas by 2030. | A major goal of the conference is for more countries, including the UK, to ratify a treaty to put a third of international waters into protected areas by 2030. |
| Speaking before the summit, Sir David told Prince William he was "appalled" by the fishing method. | Speaking before the summit, Sir David told Prince William he was "appalled" by the fishing method. |
| The naturalist's latest documentary Ocean With David Attenborough showed new footage of a bottom trawling net bulldozing through silt on the seafloor and scooping up species indiscriminately. | The naturalist's latest documentary Ocean With David Attenborough showed new footage of a bottom trawling net bulldozing through silt on the seafloor and scooping up species indiscriminately. |
| Last week, MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee renewed calls to ban bottom trawling, dredging and mining for aggregates on the seabed in what are known as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). | Last week, MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee renewed calls to ban bottom trawling, dredging and mining for aggregates on the seabed in what are known as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). |
| The extension proposed by the government would cover 41 of England's 181 MPAs, and would protect rare marine animals and the delicate seabed they rely upon. | The extension proposed by the government would cover 41 of England's 181 MPAs, and would protect rare marine animals and the delicate seabed they rely upon. |
| It says it has carried out detailed assessments into the harms caused to habitats and species. | It says it has carried out detailed assessments into the harms caused to habitats and species. |
| Environment Secretary Steve Reed said "without urgent action our oceans will be irreversibly destroyed". | Environment Secretary Steve Reed said "without urgent action our oceans will be irreversibly destroyed". |
| However, some fishing communities have pushed back on the assertion that bottom trawling needs to be banned in MPAs. They say that it isn't destructive unless done in the wrong place, and that it's an efficient way to produce food. | |
| A 12-week consultation will run until 1 September and will seek the views of the marine and fishing industry. | A 12-week consultation will run until 1 September and will seek the views of the marine and fishing industry. |
| Ariana Densham, head of oceans at Greenpeace UK, said the consultation was "ultimately a long-overdue completion of a process started by the previous government". | Ariana Densham, head of oceans at Greenpeace UK, said the consultation was "ultimately a long-overdue completion of a process started by the previous government". |
| The Wildlife Trust said it hoped the extended ban would be put in place "rapidly". | The Wildlife Trust said it hoped the extended ban would be put in place "rapidly". |
| It would be a "win-win for both nature and the climate," added the trust's director of policy and public affairs, Joan Edwards. | It would be a "win-win for both nature and the climate," added the trust's director of policy and public affairs, Joan Edwards. |
| Pressure is also building for more countries to ratify the High Seas Treaty at the Ocean Conference in Nice. | Pressure is also building for more countries to ratify the High Seas Treaty at the Ocean Conference in Nice. |
| The treaty was agreed by 193 countries two years ago to put 30% of international waters into protected areas. | The treaty was agreed by 193 countries two years ago to put 30% of international waters into protected areas. |
| The treaty will not come into force until it is ratified by 60 countries. It was announced at the opening of the conference that an additional 15 countries had ratified the treaty on Monday, but that only brings the figure to 47. The UK is among those countries that has yet to ratify. | The treaty will not come into force until it is ratified by 60 countries. It was announced at the opening of the conference that an additional 15 countries had ratified the treaty on Monday, but that only brings the figure to 47. The UK is among those countries that has yet to ratify. |
| President Macron opened the UN Oceans Conference calling for a moratorium on deep sea mining | President Macron opened the UN Oceans Conference calling for a moratorium on deep sea mining |
| President Macron, whose country is co-hosting the conference with Costa Rica, shared the news with governments in attendance at the conference - it was met with cheers from the room. | President Macron, whose country is co-hosting the conference with Costa Rica, shared the news with governments in attendance at the conference - it was met with cheers from the room. |
| He and his counterpart President Rodrigo Chaves both also spoke of their concern about deep sea mining, and called for a moratorium. | He and his counterpart President Rodrigo Chaves both also spoke of their concern about deep sea mining, and called for a moratorium. |
| "The ocean is not for sale. We're talking about a common shared good," President Macron said."I think it's madness to launch predatory economic action that will disrupt the deep seabed, disrupt biodiversity, destroy it." | "The ocean is not for sale. We're talking about a common shared good," President Macron said."I think it's madness to launch predatory economic action that will disrupt the deep seabed, disrupt biodiversity, destroy it." |
| He was speaking in reference to the decision made by President Trump in April to begin issuing permits to drill in the deep sea - in the hope that critical minerals could be retrieved. | He was speaking in reference to the decision made by President Trump in April to begin issuing permits to drill in the deep sea - in the hope that critical minerals could be retrieved. |
| This goes against a decade-long international negotiation to get global agreement on how any resources from the deep sea could be shared. China called the move, at the time, was a "violation" of international law. | This goes against a decade-long international negotiation to get global agreement on how any resources from the deep sea could be shared. China called the move, at the time, was a "violation" of international law. |
| More than 2,000 marine scientists have recommended that deep sea exploration is temporarily stopped until there is further research to understand the potential impacts on ecosystems. | More than 2,000 marine scientists have recommended that deep sea exploration is temporarily stopped until there is further research to understand the potential impacts on ecosystems. |
| Sign up for our Future Earth newsletter to keep up with the latest climate and environment stories with the BBC's Justin Rowlatt. Outside the UK? Sign up to our international newsletter here. | Sign up for our Future Earth newsletter to keep up with the latest climate and environment stories with the BBC's Justin Rowlatt. Outside the UK? Sign up to our international newsletter here. |