The UKs offshore marine protected areas (MPA) were subjected to over 20,600 hours of suspected bottom trawling in 2024, according to a new report by Oceana UK.
The hours of trawling, equivalent to dragging heavy gear across the seabed eight times around the UK, occurred despite these areas being labelled as ‘protected’, it alleges.
Oceana’s report, The Trawled Truth, highlights that only 38 of the UK’s 377 MPAs are legally shielded from bottom trawling, which is allowed in 90% of sites. The most affected MPAs were off Cornwall and the west of Scotland, with a combined 8,597 hours of trawling.
“Bottom trawling is devastating our seas,” said Alyx Elliott, campaigns director at Oceana UK.
“Weighted nets are clear-felling the forests of the ocean. The UK has the illusion of protection masking ongoing destruction.”
French vessels accounted for 55% of the tracked trawling activity, with UK vessels responsible for 19%.
Oceana warned that the figures likely underestimate the true scale due to data gaps, including a lack of tracking information for Norwegian vessels and inshore MPAs.
Dr Emma Sheehan of the University of Plymouth said that full-site bans would yield greater ecological and economic benefits. “Whole-site protection can increase marine life abundance by up to 95% and is cheaper to enforce,” she said.
Despite government commitments, no new legislation has been introduced, prompting environmentalists to call for urgent action to turn MPAs from ‘sham’ zones into real sanctuaries.
Polling shows eight in ten UK adults support a ban on bottom trawling in MPAs.
