Government proposes to extend ban on destructive bottom trawling

9th June 2025

Government proposals to ban bottom trawling in more vulnerable marine habitats aim to protect important and rare underwater life.

Bottom trawling - a fishing method that involves dragging large nets along the sea floor - could be banned across more vulnerable areas of English seas.

The government is committed to protecting our oceans and today (Monday 9th June) has outlined plans to ban the destructive practice in more Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The measures would help protect rare marine animals, as well as the delicate seabeds on which they rely, from indiscriminate and potentially irreversible damage.

A consultation will invite marine and fisheries stakeholders to share their views and evidence on the prohibition of destructive bottom-towed fishing gear that could affect approximately 30,000km2 spanning 41 MPAs.

The measures would protect marine habitats ranging from subtidal sandbanks to gravels to muds, and support important marine species such as lobster, clams, soft corals and langoustines.

A ban on bottom trawling in these areas would help conserve valuable and rare marine life, and allow seabeds to recover from damage caused by destructive fishing practices.

Such regeneration will produce healthier marine ecosystems across English waters, supporting greater biodiversity in our seas for the enjoyment of everyone, as well as preserving vulnerable underwater life that is essential for nature to heal and thrive.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed said:
Bottom trawling is damaging our precious marine wildlife and habitats.

Without urgent action, our oceans will be irreversibly destroyed - depriving us, and generations to come, of the sea life on which we all enjoy.

The Government is taking decisive action to ban destructive bottom trawling where appropriate.

Director of Policy and Public Affairs at The Wildlife Trusts Joan Edwards said
For too long damaging activities have been allowed to continue within many of our Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) which are supposed to protect the seabed.

The Wildlife Trusts have been campaigning for a long time for better management of our MPAs and therefore welcome the news today of a consultation to ban bottom-towed trawling in over 40 offshore sites.

Removing this pressure is a great step forward towards protecting not only the wildlife and fish stocks within those sites, but also the carbon stored in the seabed muds beneath. Following this consultation, we hope that these measures will be put in place rapidly to enable recovery of these sites, a win-win for both nature and the climate.

Executive Director of Oceana UK Hugo Tagholm said:
Destructive bottom trawling has no place in marine protected areas. These proposals provide a golden opportunity to safeguard these vital marine sanctuaries from the most damaging fishing practices.

If these whole-site bans are fully implemented, this could provide an invaluable and urgently needed lifeline for England's seas, which are so crucial for wildlife and climate resilience.

The proposed measures would add to the approximately 18,000 km2 of English seabed already protected from bottom-towed fishing gear, and form part of the government's ambitious programme to protect all English MPAs from harmful activity where needed.

The design of the measures and choice of MPAs has been based on detailed assessments into the impacts of fishing on sensitive seabed habitats and species at risk of damage by bottom-towed fishing gear.

The consultation will be launched by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) in partnership with Defra, and run for 12 weeks from Monday 9th June to Monday 1st September.

Elsewhere at the United Nations Ocean Conference, the government pledged a further £4 million to the Global Fund for Coral Reefs to help protect this vital marine habitat, bringing the UK's total contribution to the fund up to £40 million.

It also announced £2.8 million investment into the Outrigger Technical Assistance Fund to support sustainable blue economies in small island developing states, and reiterated its commitment to agree an ambitious, legally binding plastic pollution treaty when negotiations resume in Geneva this August.

This government is committed to protecting and restoring our ocean to good health, delivering on our commitment to protect 30 per cent of the ocean by 2030.

Last month, the government announced its £360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund to modernise Britain’s fishing fleet and support the seafood sector in the face of changing global pressures.

Scotland
The Scottish Government has been consulting on banning bottom trawling and scallop dredging in offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). A national survey found that 63% of Scots support banning these practices in MPAs, while only 12% believe they should continue. The consultation, which closed in October 2024, proposed full bans in five offshore MPAs and partial or full bans in 15 others.

Campaigners argue that many MPAs lack effective management, allowing harmful fishing practices to continue. The government has stated that implementing fisheries management measures for MPAs and 11 priority marine features most at risk from bottom trawling remains a top priority. Measures for offshore MPAs are expected in 2025, with inshore protections following statutory assessments and public consultation.

The Scottish Government is proposing a comprehensive package of fisheries management measures designed to protect and restore marine ecosystems. These measures specifically target activities such as bottom trawling and scallop dredging, which are known to cause long-term habitat damage. Below are some of the key proposals:

Bans and Restrictions in Offshore MPAs: In a bid to safeguard vulnerable benthic communities, the government is consulting on measures to implement full bans or significant restrictions on bottom trawling and scallop dredging in designated offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). This means that in a number of these areas, particularly those with high ecological value, such destructive fishing practices could be prohibited entirely. The intention is to enable ecosystem recovery and preserve habitats critical for marine biodiversity.

Tailored Management for Priority Marine Features: Recognising that certain habitats and species are disproportionately affected by damaging fishing methods, the proposals include targeted management measures for 11 priority marine features. These features, which might include sensitive seafloor communities, reefs, or vulnerable species’ breeding grounds, will benefit from more rigorous controls. This could involve restrictions on the type of gear employed, seasonal closures during critical life stages, or spatially explicit limits that reduce the cumulative impact of fishing on these areas .

Phased Implementation Across Offshore and Inshore Zones: The strategy adopts a phased approach, where measures in the offshore MPAs are expected to be operational by 2025. A separate consultation process will later focus on inshore MPAs to ensure that protection measures are tailored to the distinct ecological and socio-economic contexts found closer to shore. This phased method allows for adjustments based on early outcomes and stakeholder feedback .

Enhanced Monitoring, Licensing, and Enforcement: To ensure that the conservation goals are met, there is a significant emphasis on improved monitoring and compliance. The Marine Directorate Licensing Operations team is set to oversee restrictions through more rigorous licensing. In addition, a comprehensive monitoring strategy will help track the effectiveness of these restrictions over time, meaning that progress reports will be periodically produced and reviewed to guide any necessary adjustments in policy.

Overall, these proposals reflect a commitment to a more sustainable and science-based approach to fisheries management. By regulating or banning especially harmful practices in areas of high ecological importance, the government aims to foster the health and resilience of marine ecosystems while navigating the complexities of stakeholder interests—from industry to environmental groups.