Wildlife

Wild Animal Welfare and UK Coral Reef Welfare

UK cold-water coral reefs support diverse wildlife communities and face welfare challenges from bottom trawling, warming, and acidification.

Key Facts

UK cold-water coral reefs including those off Scotland and Ireland support hundreds of species
Bottom trawling destroys coral structures that take centuries to develop
Marine Protected Areas protect some UK cold-water coral habitats from bottom trawling
Ocean acidification from CO2 absorption is dissolving coral calcium carbonate structures
Wildlife surveys of UK cold-water corals reveal diverse communities including deepwater fish and invertebrates

Welfare Considerations

UK cold-water coral reef welfare requires protection from trawling and advocacy for emissions reduction. These ancient ecosystems support enormous biodiversity and deserve active protection.

What You Can Do

Support designation of Marine Protected Areas for cold-water coral reefs
Advocate for bottom trawling bans in protected marine areas
Support emissions reduction as the most important long-term coral protection measure