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WWF-Canada Calls on Canada to Join Other Nations in Prohibiting Deep-Sea Bottom Trawling |
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Written by Wire Services/HL Staff
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Wednesday, 18 October 2006 |
WWF-Canada today called on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to follow the lead of US President George Bush, as well as other nations that support a growing oceans conservation initiative proposed at the United Nations General Assembly. This proposal would temporarily prohibit deep-sea bottom trawling in unmanaged areas of the high seas until effective management arrangements had been put in place. Canada has thus far opposed such a measure.
About 64 per cent of the world's oceans are in international waters, beyond the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of coastal states, and bottom trawling is unmanaged in about three-quarters of this area. The practice of bottom trawling, where huge nets outfitted with steel plates and heavy rollers are dragged across the ocean bottom, causes significant harm to sensitive species, habitats, and ecosystems.
"As it stands now, most of the high seas are like the old 'wild west' where there is little coherent law, and anything goes regardless of the impacts to fish stocks and sensitive habitats. It is really puzzling why Canada has sided with Spain and other nations with poor fishing records, in opposing this measure," said Dr. Simon Cripps, Director, Global Marine Program, WWF International. "After all, the proposal would simply pause fishing in unregulated areas of the ocean until proper management measures can be put in place. Canada can be reassured that the proposal only involves high seas areas and only proposes to temporarily suspend bottom trawling in those
areas where management regimes are missing or inadequate."
Dr. Robert Rangeley, Director of the Atlantic Marine Program, WWF-Canada notes that although Canada has already committed to international fisheries improvements, its refusal to participate in the international effort to regulate and control destructive bottom-trawling is puzzling. Rangeley continued, "Sensitive ocean habitat needs to be protected either by removing threats such as bottom trawling or by implementing other effective protection measures". Rangeley went on to say that three quarters of the high seas have no management regime at all in regards to trawling which has resulted in the decimation of many areas within those waters. He added, "The international community must act now in a precautionary manner to protect what is left before it is too late. Canada should be leading this initiative by supporting the UN resolution, not trying to sink it." |
