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The Senate late yesterday agreed, with cross party support, to a motion
put forward by Greens Senator Rachel Siewert acknowledging support for
the recently announced Government position, supporting bans on high
seas bottom trawl fishing.
The Senate vote follows two days of negotiations last week at the UNGA regarding measures to be adopted at this year’s UNGA to stop destructive fishing practices such as bottom trawling on the high seas.
Deep Sea Conservation Coalition Australia Coordinator, Ms Lyn Goldsworthy, said “Australia’s proposal was well-received at the meeting last week but there are significant blocks. Australia will need to push hard to make sure its position is agreed by the UNGA.”
“The momentum towards a moratorium on high seas bottom trawling is building. An increasing number of states support a moratorium on unregulated high seas bottom trawling. Scientists have put the case for urgent action. We also know some states are opposed with the main stumbling blocks being Canada, Japan and the European Union as a whole, despite the fact that many EU States support the moratorium” she said.
“Australia really needs to get out there now and convince these countries that a moratorium is the only effective means of protecting fragile deep sea ecosystems. Even the United States is now supporting a moratorium on unregulated high seas bottom trawling”.
“Anything less than the Australia position will be a very sad day for deep sea creatures and their ecosystems” concluded Ms Goldsworthy.
The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition is calling for an immediate global moratorium on all high seas bottom trawling to allow time for scientific research of deep sea habitats and until sustainable management measures are implemented.
Negotiations will continue on an informal bilateral basis until 17-22 November when another round of negotiations will take place prior to formal decisions at the UNGA in early December.
Notes to the Editor
Background information available at www.savethehighseas.org
The Senate vote follows two days of negotiations last week at the UNGA regarding measures to be adopted at this year’s UNGA to stop destructive fishing practices such as bottom trawling on the high seas.
Deep Sea Conservation Coalition Australia Coordinator, Ms Lyn Goldsworthy, said “Australia’s proposal was well-received at the meeting last week but there are significant blocks. Australia will need to push hard to make sure its position is agreed by the UNGA.”
“The momentum towards a moratorium on high seas bottom trawling is building. An increasing number of states support a moratorium on unregulated high seas bottom trawling. Scientists have put the case for urgent action. We also know some states are opposed with the main stumbling blocks being Canada, Japan and the European Union as a whole, despite the fact that many EU States support the moratorium” she said.
“Australia really needs to get out there now and convince these countries that a moratorium is the only effective means of protecting fragile deep sea ecosystems. Even the United States is now supporting a moratorium on unregulated high seas bottom trawling”.
“Anything less than the Australia position will be a very sad day for deep sea creatures and their ecosystems” concluded Ms Goldsworthy.
The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition is calling for an immediate global moratorium on all high seas bottom trawling to allow time for scientific research of deep sea habitats and until sustainable management measures are implemented.
Negotiations will continue on an informal bilateral basis until 17-22 November when another round of negotiations will take place prior to formal decisions at the UNGA in early December.
Notes to the Editor
Background information available at www.savethehighseas.org
For further information or comment
Clare Henderson (DSCC) on 0419 266 110
