Deep Sea Trawling Impacts on Marine Wildlife

Bottom trawling is one of the most destructive fishing methods - it devastates deep sea habitats and causes extensive non-target species welfare harm.

Key Facts

Bottom trawling disturbs more ocean floor area annually than any other human activity
Deep sea corals and sponges providing habitat for hundreds of species can be destroyed in minutes and may take centuries to recover
Bycatch in bottom trawling can represent 80%+ of the catch in some fisheries
Deep sea species caught as bycatch typically die from pressure changes during ascent - decompression is severe
The UN Fisheries and Agriculture Organization has called for greater regulation of high seas deep sea fishing
Some marine protected areas now exclude bottom trawling, providing refuge for deep sea ecosystems

Welfare Considerations

Deep sea trawling causes immense wildlife welfare harm at multiple levels. Non-target species including sharks, rays, deep sea fish, and invertebrates caught as bycatch experience severe suffering from trawling pressure changes, barotrauma, and asphyxiation. Habitat destruction eliminates the complex communities supporting thousands of species. The welfare scale is almost impossible to quantify given the volume and diversity of affected animals. Transitioning to selective, less destructive fishing methods and establishing comprehensive no-trawl zones are the most impactful welfare and conservation interventions.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood certified by MSC or similar standards that restrict destructive fishing methods
Support campaigns for deep sea trawling bans in international waters through Oceana and similar organisations
Advocate for expansion of marine protected areas that exclude bottom trawling
Reduce seafood consumption, particularly bottom-trawled species
Engage with politicians about supporting international agreements on high seas bottom trawling reform
Follow Deep Sea Conservation Coalition campaigns on deep sea habitat protection