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Actress Sigourney Weaver has joined a coalition of more than 60
conservation organisations, including Greenpeace, to call for new
action on lawless high seas bottom trawling - a practice scientists say
is destroying the world’s rarest and most sensitive ocean habitats.
Calling for a moratorium on high seas bottom trawling at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York, the Deep-Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) and Weaver were joined by Ellen Pikitch, the executive director of the Pew Institute for Ocean Science at the University of Miami and the Australian, Palauan and UN ambassadors who are championing new protective measures.
Ms Weaver said, “This may be the last chance we have to save some of the earth’s most vital and important ecosystems. The natural treasures of the deepest ocean are being levelled by trawling, devastating areas of importance to all humankind. The international community simply must step up and act.”
The joint announcement comes a day before representatives of UN member states gather to negotiate protection for vanishing deep-sea ecosystems. The groups say delegates are under unprecedented pressure to tackle the problem.
Action by the General Assembly (GA) had been delayed pending the outcome of a review by members of the GA of measures already taken.
Greenpeace Australia Pacific Political Advisor and DSCC member Seni Nabou said, “The UN has the power to protect our remarkable deep sea life from the damage caused by bottom trawlers. If it fails to act, unknown worlds will be destroyed before we fully understand all the life they contain.”
UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan published a report in July 2006 which concluded little had been done to protect vulnerable deep sea ecosystems on the high seas.
The report stated: “Many fisheries are not managed until they are over-exploited and clearly depleted and, because of the high vulnerability of deep-sea species to exploitation and their low potential for recovery, this is of particular concern for these stocks. This raises the question of the urgent need for interim measures in particular circumstances, pending the adoption of conservation and management regimes.”
Brazil, the UK, South Africa, Australia, Chile, France, Norway, the Netherlands, Germany and many Pacific Island nations are among those that have called for a halt to unregulated high seas bottom trawling. Spain, Russia and Iceland lead the opposition.
This week’s negotiations are crucial in determining how the UN General Assembly will address the issue when it meets in November.
Calling for a moratorium on high seas bottom trawling at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York, the Deep-Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) and Weaver were joined by Ellen Pikitch, the executive director of the Pew Institute for Ocean Science at the University of Miami and the Australian, Palauan and UN ambassadors who are championing new protective measures.
Ms Weaver said, “This may be the last chance we have to save some of the earth’s most vital and important ecosystems. The natural treasures of the deepest ocean are being levelled by trawling, devastating areas of importance to all humankind. The international community simply must step up and act.”
The joint announcement comes a day before representatives of UN member states gather to negotiate protection for vanishing deep-sea ecosystems. The groups say delegates are under unprecedented pressure to tackle the problem.
Action by the General Assembly (GA) had been delayed pending the outcome of a review by members of the GA of measures already taken.
Greenpeace Australia Pacific Political Advisor and DSCC member Seni Nabou said, “The UN has the power to protect our remarkable deep sea life from the damage caused by bottom trawlers. If it fails to act, unknown worlds will be destroyed before we fully understand all the life they contain.”
UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan published a report in July 2006 which concluded little had been done to protect vulnerable deep sea ecosystems on the high seas.
The report stated: “Many fisheries are not managed until they are over-exploited and clearly depleted and, because of the high vulnerability of deep-sea species to exploitation and their low potential for recovery, this is of particular concern for these stocks. This raises the question of the urgent need for interim measures in particular circumstances, pending the adoption of conservation and management regimes.”
Brazil, the UK, South Africa, Australia, Chile, France, Norway, the Netherlands, Germany and many Pacific Island nations are among those that have called for a halt to unregulated high seas bottom trawling. Spain, Russia and Iceland lead the opposition.
This week’s negotiations are crucial in determining how the UN General Assembly will address the issue when it meets in November.
For further information or comment
Zoe Porter, Greenpeace communications officer 0409 048 260 Pacific Political Advisor Seni Nabou +679 331 2861 Duncan Currie, DSCC +64 (21) 632 335
