Take action to protect our oceans

Bottom trawling is hugely devastating for ocean ecosystems. When fishing vessels drag vast weighted nets through delicate ecosystems, like over seamounts, they destroy everything in their path, including the slow growing corals and sponges that have provided a habitat for so many diverse ocean creatures. 

Research done in recent years by Australian scientists has highlighted the destructive impacts of bottom trawling on the seafloor and surrounding ecosystem. This research has established that, when it comes to bottom trawling, every 37kg of coral swept up in the net equates to an estimated 4-12 tonnes of coral destruction on the seabed. [Source 1 | Source 2]

Bottom trawling is happening across the world, including close to home. New Zealand companies like Talley’s and Sealord are trawling in the south Pacific high seas and in Tasmania, carving a trail of destruction across the Tasman Sea. New Zealand is the last country trawling in the high seas between Australia and New Zealand.

Industrial fishing companies who are bottom trawling in the Lord Howe Rise and South Tasman Sea areas are generally targeting orange roughy, oreo (not the cookies!), alfonsino, and bluenose fish. However, due to the indiscriminate nature of bottom trawling and how biodiverse the area is, countless other creatures get caught in the nets.

The South Tasman Sea and Lord Howe Rise areas are also home to some of the highest density of seabirds in the world, and a high diversity of fish species, dolphins, and sharks. The seamounts in the region also serve roles as important breeding locations, resting areas, and navigational landmarks for migrating endangered South Pacific humpback whales.

Out on the high seas the historic Global Ocean Treaty provides the mechanism for creating marine protected areas (MPAs) in international waters. An MPA is a tool for protecting parts of the ocean and can look very different depending on how strongly the legislation is written. 

Until the Global Ocean Treaty enters into force, there is no global mechanism for creating MPAs in the international waters which cover over 70% of the ocean. This is why Greenpeace is calling on the Australian Government to ratify the treaty, and then push for the creation of an MPA in the South Tasman Sea and Lord Howe Rise.

Greenpeace is campaigning for vulnerable areas of this region to be fully and highly protected as a marine sanctuary. This would ensure that the area is safe from extractive and destructive activities, like bottom trawling, enabling ocean wildlife to be resilient, recover and thrive into the future.