06/09/23 Banning bottom trawls for the preservation of seas and oceans
Animal Friends Croatia is calling for World Oceans Day to be recognized by signing a petition to ban bottom trawling
- In the last 50 years, 90 percent of large fish populations have been exterminated
World Ocean Day is celebrated every year on June 8 with the aim of raising awareness of the need to preserve the marine environment as an essential component of our life on the planet and to react to the trends of increasing sea and ocean destruction due to human activity. World Oceans Day was first celebrated on June 8, 1992, at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). Since then, the celebration of this day has become an important global event in the fight to preserve seas and oceans.
The famous British naturalist and researcher, Sir David Attenborough, often spoke about the importance of protecting the oceans and preserving marine ecosystems: "The oceans are a source of inspiration, wonder and secrets. We need to explore them, discover their beauty and diversity, but at the same time we must be aware that we are their guardians and that it is our responsibility to protect them."
In the last 50 years, fishing has exterminated 90 percent of large fish populations, and it is predicted that if this cruel practice continues, by the year 2050 there will be no more fish in seas and oceans.
Seas and oceans are home to diverse marine animals such as whales, dolphins, sea turtles, sea birds, shellfish, fish and many other species, and bottom trawl fishing has an extremely destructive effect on sea life and marine biodiversity. "Everything that gets in their way ends up in bottom trawl nets, including endangered and protected animal species," - notes Animal Friends Croatia. They add that in the last 65 years, bottom trawlers have discarded over 400 million tons of animals that were not intended to be caught, either dead or dying.
"Bottom trawling extremely impoverishes fish habitats, removes sea grass, devastates coral reefs, underwater algae forests, and other marine animal habitats. The prohibition of bottom trawls would reduce such destructive activity and enable the restoration and preservation of the seabed, and would contribute to the protection of marine biodiversity," appeals Animal Friends Croatia.
According to a recent study by scientists published in the scientific journal Nature, bottom trawling emits the same amount of carbon dioxide as the entire aviation industry. The growth of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and water leads to faster acidification of seas and oceans. Sea acidity adversely affects productivity and biodiversity. The disappearance of just one species can affect the entire marine ecosystem.
"Banning bottom trawls is not only a step towards preserving the biodiversity of marine species, but also towards creating a sustainable future for our seas and oceans" - remark Animal Friends Croatia as they invite you to sign the petition at www.zabranimo-koce.net.
Translated by: Vito Čubrilo
![Trawl nets 1 [ 127.74 Kb ]](/data/image_3_14626.jpg "Trawl nets 1 [ 127.74 Kb ]")
