Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely has joined a campaign to ban ‘bottom trawling’ – a highly destructive form of fishing that involves dragging weighted nets across the seabed.
Mr Seely said a ban on bottom trawling would be good for small fishing communities such as the Isle of Wight and would protect fragile marine ecosystems.
Speaking during a Westminster Hall debate on Tuesday, Bob said:
“I think there would be very strong support on the Isle of Wight for a ban on bottom trawling in all MPAs [Marine Protected Areas].”
He said a ban, combined with a marine reserve – such as the one in Lyme Bay where fishing and other activity is allowed as long as none are damaging to the seabed or to nature conservation – would be very good news for the Island.
Speaking after the debate, Mr Seely said:
“While I’m pleased the government has committed to banning bottom trawling in four Marine Protected Areas, I want – and urge – them to go much further and faster.
“This damaging fishing practice continues to destroy the marine life we want to protect.
Article continues below this advertisement “We are now in a position, having exited the European Union, to ban bottom trawling and take back control of our waters. Now is the time for the government to act.”
Calling for a ban eh Bobby?? You’re not very good at bans are you Bob? There was a ban on gatherings in lockdown but you decided to ignore than ban.Seen a barbecue gathering whilst everyone else got locked up. Bans are only for the plebs eh Bobby boy? What a joke. Sick of these MPs. Especially ours. MPs views have no creditability
. Save our Fish .We should eat Sausages instead .
Where I used to work in Soho, “bottom trawling” had a completely different meaning
Half a sausage looking for free, effortless publicity again. Election jitters perchance?
bit late for that. they’ve already decimated the fish numbers
Give up and go home Seldom. You are irrelevant. No one is listening to you.
No mention i see regarding that huge Dutch trawler lurking off our coast for over a year,presumably hoovering up all the bass in football pitch sized nets ad infinitum,but catch one too many from the shore as a pleasure angler and it’s fines to be paid ?
While Seely’s regularly puts his own political career over the interests of his constituents, he is correct in this. Bottom trawling is hugely destructive and devastates huge areas of seabed. If the kind of damage it causes occurred on land there would be outrage, but its all out of sight and out of mind under the sea.
I suppose when even a stopped clock is right twice a day, Seely must get things right sometimes.
Good point
I think its a shame that the Trolls can only attack Bob Seely rather than thinking about the serious issues that result from huge, mainly French, drag-net trawlers destroying the seaweed beds around our coast and the protected species dependent upon them such as seahorses and ungulate rays. How can any right thinking person not support Bob’s positon?
The other issue that needs to be addressed is enforcement against dredgers removing sand and gravel illegally in our protected inshore waters.