- Bottom trawling devastates marine ecosystems, killing millions of non-target species and destroying fragile seabed habitats, even in protected areas.
- The practice emits 370 million metric tons of CO₂ annually, contributing heavily to climate change by disturbing carbon-rich ocean sediments.
- Despite massive ecological and economic costs, bottom trawling is sustained by $22 billion in global subsidies, making it financially viable at the expense of the environment and small-scale fishers.
Bottom trawling, a widespread industrial fishing method, involves dragging enormous nets along the ocean floor, scraping up fish and anything else in their path. While efficient in capturing large volumes of seafood, this method wreaks havoc on the seafloor. Entire ecosystems, including slow-growing corals, sponges, and vital marine habitats, are obliterated in the process. The destruction is not limited to targeted species; dolphins, turtles, and other marine life are frequently caught as bycatch.
Despite its well-documented harm, bottom trawling remains legal in over 80% of Europe’s Marine Protected Areas and nearly all of the UK’s, revealing a significant gap between ocean conservation policy and practice. Globally, only a fraction of marine areas are effectively shielded from such practices. While around 8% of the ocean is under some form of protection, less than 3% actually enforces safeguards against bottom trawling.
The collateral damage from this practice is staggering. An estimated four million tons of marine animals—many of them vulnerable or endangered—are unintentionally killed every year by bottom trawling. These losses extend beyond individual species to entire ecosystems, undermining the balance and biodiversity essential for the ocean’s health and resilience. As biodiversity declines, ecosystems become more fragile and less able to withstand environmental changes.
Beyond ecological impacts, bottom trawling contributes significantly to climate change. The disturbance of seabed sediments releases an estimated 370 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually—comparable to emissions from 100 coal-fired power plants. This undermines global efforts to combat climate change, making bottom trawling both a biodiversity crisis and a climate emergency.
Economically, the practice poses more harm than good. A recent study estimates that the societal cost of bottom trawling in European waters reaches up to €10.8 billion annually, largely due to carbon emissions. Despite its high cost and damage, the industry survives through government subsidies. Globally, $22 billion in public funds support industrial fishing practices like bottom trawling—effectively financing the depletion of the oceans at the taxpayer’s expense.
