Consultation on the Review of Trawling Activity Inside the Six Nautical Mile Zone

An Taisce has called for Ireland to take leadership on fish population conservation as provided in Sustainable Development Goal 14, Life Under Water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources, in a Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine consultation on trawling with in the six nautical mile exclusive national fishing zone. An Taisce has highlighted the need to place marine life protection above vested interests.

Ian Lumley, Advocacy Officer, stated, “Where practices need to be changed, new livelihood opportunities must be identified and supported for those affected. In many cases, the issue causing ecological damage such as bottom trawling or scallop dredging, is a new practice which is doomed by its nature to destroying the species or habitat which is being exploited. This needs to be clearly communicated to avoid previous controversies which have been generated such as the necessary restriction of salmon drift netting or turf cutting.”

He went on to state, “Ireland should be an international leader in protecting marine biodiversity, giving legal status to the protection of all marine life and habitats. The provisions of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive provide the means for Ireland to take European leadership in marine conservation through identification and scheduling of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to restrict dredging, bottom trawling, and inappropriate aquaculture and to allow fish population renewal and the enhancement of feed sources for marine birds and mammals.”

In its recommendations An Taisce have suggested the following:

• Limiting dredging boats in the 6nm limit to under 12 metres;
• Prohibiting use of mobile as opposed to static gears;
• Designating Marine Protected Areas to allow for the revival of nursery fish populations.

For further information, contact:
Ian Lumley, An Taisce Advocacy Officer: +353 1 454 1786
Charles Stanley-Smith, Communications, An Taisce. Tel: +353 87 241 1995
email: [email protected]
An Taisce The National Trust for Ireland
www.antaisce.org

Notes

An Taisce’s Submission on Public Consultation on a Review of Trawling Activity Inside the Six Nautical Mile Zone - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H4Jk9lHUvykl0ofvUrfmTJDKFF87lUm-/view?usp=sharing

About An Taisce

An Taisce is a charity that works to preserve and protect Ireland's natural and built heritage. We are an independent charitable voice for the environment and for heritage issues. We are not a government body, semi-state or agency. Founded in 1948, we are one of Ireland’s oldest and largest environmental organisations.