Deep Sea Trawling Welfare Impacts

Deep sea bottom trawling causes significant welfare harms to a vast array of marine species, many of which are poorly known to science.

Key Facts

Bottom trawling is the world most destructive fishing method, affecting millions of square kilometres of seafloor annually
Deep sea species including fish, crustaceans and corals are caught as bycatch
Many deep sea fish species are slow-growing and long-lived, making populations vulnerable to overexploitation
Barotrauma affects fish brought to the surface from depth - rapid pressure change causes bladder rupture and other injuries
Some deep sea species are still alive when discarded at the surface but cannot survive
The UN has called for deep sea trawling bans in areas of vulnerable marine ecosystems
Several countries including the UK have designated marine protected areas excluding bottom trawling

Welfare Considerations

Deep sea trawling causes welfare harms to vast numbers of marine animals through barotrauma, physical injury, and discard mortality. The scale is enormous but largely invisible. Regulatory restrictions on deep sea trawling in sensitive areas are advancing, but coverage remains inadequate. Consumer choices for certified sustainable seafood from non-trawling fisheries provide market incentive for transition.

What You Can Do

Choose seafood from non-trawl fisheries including line-caught and pot-caught options
Support Marine Conservation Society and Oceana campaigns for trawling restrictions
Advocate for expanded marine protected areas that prohibit bottom trawling
Ask seafood retailers and restaurants specifically about their bottom trawling sourcing policies