Greenpeace released nine two-tonne rocks off the Norfolk coast to physically obstruct heavy nets dragged across the seabed by industrial fishing vessels. Campaigners delivered coordinates to officials to update navigational charts after docking their ship in Great Yarmouth. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs maintained that existing legislation protects marine habitats, with damaging gear already outlawed in over 100 zones.
Key points
Campaigners resorted to direct action over concerns that bottom trawling destroys marine…: Campaigners resorted to direct action over concerns that bottom trawling destroys marine habitats and impairs hunting by harbour porpoises.
Authorities received location coordinates from the environmental group to update official…: Authorities received location coordinates from the environmental group to update official navigation maps for commercial mariners.
Government officials reiterated that maritime interventions must be lawful while reviewin…: Government officials reiterated that maritime interventions must be lawful while reviewing additional restrictions for protected marine sites.
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- Published
Greenpeace has dropped nine boulders off the east coast of England to create a barrier that disrupts bottom trawling by fishing vessels.
The environmental campaigners' ship, Arctic Sunrise, sailed off the Norfolk coast to release the rocks without a licence over the weekend before mooring in Great Yarmouth.
Bottom trawling involves dragging weighted nets along the seabed to catch fish, although it can harm underwater vegetation.
Greenpeace claimed it had "effectively closed 116 sq km (45 sq miles) of the Southern North Sea Marine Protected Area (MPA) to bottom trawling". The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said "activities at sea should be carried out lawfully".
When asked if they had permission to drop the boulders, Greenpeace said this was a "last resort" for it, and it did not have a licence.
It said that after years of meeting with politicians and the government to try to protect marine protected areas, progress had been "at a glacial pace".
A Defra spokesperson said: "We have strict legislation in place to protect our marine environment while supporting sustainable…
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