S Pacific to stop bottom trawling (BBC) {25% of ocean protected}

[eppur_se_muova]

A quarter of the world's oceans will be protected from fishing boats which drag heavy nets across the sea floor, South Pacific nations have agreed.

The landmark deal will restrict bottom trawling, which experts say destroys coral reefs and stirs up clouds of sediment that suffocate marine life.
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It extends from the Equator to the Antarctic and from Australia to the western coast of South America.
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"Because of the cost implications of the necessary research and assessment and observer requirements, it may even have the effect of putting an end to bottom trawling," {the delegation from New Zealand} said.
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"It can be done, it has been done, and it's time for all countries to do the same in all other ocean regions."


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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6627425.stm

Woohoo! :bounce: The rapacious corporate bastards lost out on this one!

[MasonJar]

1. Good for the "good" to the environment neighbors in the South Pacific.

KUDOS to you all!

[Judi Lynn]

2. This is a tremendous article. Wish it could be arranged before next September, however.

The entire piece was very well prepared, very helpful. The images helped, the deeper information, as well. Now I know why Orange Roughy and Chilean Sea Bass should be left alone to regroup!

Here's a much shorter, not too well done article published today on the subject:

Sunday, May 6, 2007 - Page updated at 02:03 AM

Nations unite to discourage trawling in South Pacific
By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — More than 20 nations have agreed to discourage unregulated and destructive bottom trawling on the South Pacific high seas, a victory for environmental groups.

The agreement, which takes effect Sept. 30, is intended to protect about one-quarter of the world's seas, a vast area extending roughly from the equator to the Antarctic Circle and from Australia and New Zealand to the west coast of South America.

Observers and ship-locator monitoring systems are to be used, and vessels must remain at least five nautical miles from deep-water coral and other vulnerable marine ecosystems.

The agreement, reached Friday in Chile, follows a U.N. General Assembly resolution in December aimed at getting tough on trawling, which involves fishing boats that drag giant nets along the seafloor.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003695427_trawl06.html

[Judi Lynn]

3. Article from the Santiago Times:

CHILE: COUNTRIES AGREE TO END DEEP SEA BOTTOM TRAWLING

(May 6, 2007) More than 20 countries have agreed to work together to end a method of deep-sea fishing which they say causes huge damage to the environment.

The agreement reached in the coastal town of Reñaca in Chile will come into force on 30 September and extends from the Equator to the Antarctic and from Australia to the western coast of South America.
(snip)

"Ahead of the net they have some steel rollers that clear the path for the net to come behind, so that the net doesn`t snag on anything," she said.
"But pretty much anything that`s in the way of the net, like corals or sponges, any kind of sea lice is kind of bowled over to make way for the net behind."

The 20 countries meeting in Chile agreed to impose the restrictions from October until a full scientific study can be undertaken on the effects of bottom trawling.

China, the United States, France, Japan, Chile and South Korea were among the countries signing the agreement.

Russia however did not sign and says it will continue fishing in the same way.

http://www.tcgnews.com/santiagotimes/index.php?nav=story&story_id=13655&topic_id=15