Oceana interviews Sussex Underwater on the fight against bottom trawling
Founded in 2001, worldwide marine conservation group Oceana works alongside scientists, policymakers, and communities to campaign for ocean protection. Their campaigns have led to restrictions on harmful fishing practices and the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Both Oceana and Sussex Underwater are united in their call for a ban on bottom trawling, which poses a severe threat to marine ecosystems. For this year’s Marine Protected Area day, Oceana reached out to Catrine Priestley from Sussex Underwater to discuss our inspiring stories of ocean recovery following the 2021 inshore trawling ban.
In the interview, Catrine highlighted the contributions of her father, Eric Smith, now 76, who has been diving in Sussex since childhood. Eric provides an invaluable perspective, as he has witnessed firsthand the devastation caused by trawling. This drove him to push the successful ban on trawling in Sussex. He watched his ‘garden of eden’, the underwater playground of his youth, be destroyed, but now he gets to watch life return as the environment is given space to breathe. Following the trawler ban, Eric has seen mussel beds expand dramatically, transforming from a small patch to sprawling expanses, watched kelp slowly come back, and alongside the Sussex Underwater team Eric has captured amazing footage of the marine life returning.
It is clear that there needs to be more collective awareness of what is happening in our underwater world, and a push towards sustainable fishing practices. After all, how can we expect people to speak up for something they don’t know about? Catrine emphasises that many people remain unaware of the true nature of bottom trawling and the extensive damage it causes. Even with MPAs in place, the troubling fact remains that trawling continues to occur in these protected areas.
As we look ahead, there is hope that the new government will listen to the voices of marine organisations like Oceana and Sussex Underwater. We aim to see the government fulfil its “30 by 30” pledge, a global initiative to designate 30% of Earth’s land and oceans as protected areas by 2030. Recently, Sussex Underwater has been giving our sea creatures a voice by speaking on a panel at the 2024 Labour Party Conference in Liverpool. Catrine spoke passionately about the urgency of implementing a nationwide ban on bottom trawling, sharing evidence of the remarkable recovery seen in Sussex since the local ban was enacted. Together, we can advocate for healthier oceans and a sustainable future. We no longer want our underwater world to be out of sight, out of mind. Join us in this vital campaign to protect our seas for generations to come!
Read Oceana’s piece on their interview with Catrine Priestley, Sussex Underwater: https://uk.oceana.org/blog/sussex-underwater/
