Bottom trawling in coastal areas designed to be sanctuaries for marine life has been likened to little more than “ecological vandalism” by ocean campaigners following the release of a new study finding that 75% of the British public now stand against the practice.

The new survey had been commissioned to coincide with the release of OCEAN with David Attenborough, a feature-length cinematic production that has launched in cinemas worldwide today in celebration of the natural historian and storyteller’s 99th birthday.

Produced and launched to drive home Sir David Attenborough’s strongest message of the ocean to date, the feature film (and its coinciding book) is determined to open the eyes of audiences across the globe to the graphic scenes of seabed destruction caused by trawling.

The film is in cinemas now, covering 27 countries.

Research earlier this year from Blue Marine Foundation showed that the majority of UK marine ‘protected’ areas – those designed to conserve vital marine ecosystems – remain open to one of the most damaging fishing practices on Earth – bottom trawling. 

Bringing close attention to the crisis, Sir David and the team at Silverback Studios and Open Planet – collaborative producers of the cinematic release – deliver audiences never-before-seen footage of the destruction of seabed habitats through trawling.

“It’s hard to believe that such a practice is legal,” Sir David tells audiences in one of the more intimate moments of the strikingly bold film. “But it’s not only legal, but it is actively encouraged by governments, receiving up to €1.3 billion in subsidies each year in Europe alone.”

Now, however, and with eyes widening to the destruction that trawling leaves in its wake the British public are starting to make their stand. In fact, Blue Marine data suggests that 77% of UK adults are now concerned about the loss of marine life caused by bottom trawling, while only 26% believe the UK government is doing enough to meet its international commitments on ocean protection.

Further to this, the same study has found – based on a sample of 2,000 adults – that three in four people support a ban on trawling in marine protected areas, while 62% say a politician’s stance on ocean protection affects how they vote.

Perhaps most strikingly, 63% of Brits have no idea that the destructive practice of trawling is still allowed in marine protected areas.

“Quite simply, bottom trawling in areas designed as sanctuaries for marine life is ecological vandalism,” said Charles Clover, co-founder and senior adviser to Blue Marine Foundation. “This poll shows that the public has had enough of empty promises and contradictions. Protected areas should be just that. There should be no room for industrial destruction.”

A recently released paper authored by the Blue Marine Foundation’s senior project manager, Dr Jean-Luc Solandt found, earlier this year, that bottom trawling was still permitted in 74% of England’s inshore marine protected areas. 

In Scotland, the picture is even worse, with 92% of inshore marine protected areas still permitting bottom trawling and dredging, even in fragile coastal habitats such as seagrass meadows and reef systems.

The reason for this, the Blue Marine Foundation team has suggested, is in the slow implementation of byelaws and other management measures within protected areas. So slow that the government, in fact, missed its target of removing destructive fishing practices from 181 marine protected areas in English waters at the end of last year.

Clare Brook, ceo of Blue Marine Foundation, said: “For too long, industrial bottom trawling has happened out of sight and out of mind. David Attenborough’s magnificent film has lifted the lid on a destructive and wasteful practice that has no place in protected areas.”

In another move to galvanize the collective action of a society growing more aware of the destruction and devastation caused by bottom trawling, the Blue Marine Foundation has launched a brand new campaign, The Bottom Line.

Both Blue Marine Foundation and Oceana are now calling upon the UK Environment Secretary, Steve Reed to end bottom trawling here in the UK’s own marine protected areas. The public can send a letter to Reed here. 

Listen to the Ocean News Podcast review of ‘Ocean with David Attenborough’ here.

Click here for more from the Oceanographic Newsroom.