Save deep sea life

There is unprecedented concern about the destruction of our deep seas. More   than 1300 eminent marine scientists from 60 countries have signed a public statement calling for an immediate moratorium on bottom trawling in international waters.

This global threat to deep sea life in international waters needs an international   solution. That's why Greenpeace and a coalition of other environmental groups   have been working to convince the United Nations that a moratorium is urgently needed.

Greenpeace is part of Deep Sea Conservation Coalition and a growing number of countries that are campaigning for a UN moratorium on high seas bottom trawling.

The moratorium would give 'time out' for the UN to:

• assess deep sea  biodiversity and ecosystems
• develop legally binding international regimes to conserve and manage the bottom fisheries of the high seas.

About the Moratorium

A moratorium would immediately halt bottom trawling and allow scientists to study deep sea life. Scientists would report to the UN and advise which deep sea areas need permanent protection and which may be fished.

It would also allow time for world leaders to put in place longer term legal   measures.

At the moment, bottom trawlers are plundering seamounts and wiping out the   unknown worlds of the deep sea before new species are even known to exist.

Only the United Nations General Assembly can deal with the threat of bottom   trawling on deep sea biodiversity in a comprehensive and global way.

Take action now to save deep sea life