Trawl fishing catches huge amounts of seafood. It also devastates the seafloor

Bottom trawling, a prevalent fishing method, accounts for approximately 42 billion pounds (19 million metric tons) of fish and invertebrates annually, constituting around a quarter of the world’s wild marine catch. This technique involves dragging a large, heavy net along the seafloor, which can stir up sediment and disrupt marine habitats.

While trawling is efficient for catching large quantities of fish, it also poses significant threats to marine ecosystems. Unintended catch, or bycatch, is a major issue, with discarded marine life often dead. This includes vulnerable species such as sharks, rays, and turtles, which can become trapped in the gear. The environmental impact of bottom trawling is thus a critical concern, highlighting the need for sustainable fishing practices to protect both marine life and seafloor ecosystems.

Brief written by urgent.news from Winnipeg Free Press's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.