Hard evidence of high seas destruction

Yesterday, black coral, which has had Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) protection since 1981, was dragged up from the floor of the Tasman Sea by one of the several bottom-trawling vessels being tracked by Greenpeace.

Marine biologist Kat Bolstad holds a twig of black coral recovered from the bycatch discarded from a deep water trawler in international waters in the Tasman Sea. Black coral is protected in adjacent NZ waters, and is listed under the international CITES agreement. Greenpeace along with more than a thousand scientists are supporting the call for a moratorium on high seas bottom trawling, because of the vast amount of marine life that is destroyed by this fishing method. Marine biologist holding protected species of black coral found in bottom trawler net

Many other species were also suffering cruel, wasteful and unnecesssary deaths, some of which were rarely sighted creatures including deep sea sharks and squid, and others which were commercially valuable fish species left to die because they were not the intended catch for this trawler. The Rainbow Warrior crew, including a marine biologist, have documented the destruction in their recent mission in the high seas off the coast of New Zealand.

This is yet further evidence that an immediate moratorium on high seas bottom trawling is needed to protect the unique biodiversity of the deep sea.

VIEW THE VIDEO OF GREENPEACE ACTIVISTS RECOVERING DISCARDED CREATURES FROM BOTTOM TRAWLERS

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A "rattail" discarded by deep sea fishing trawlers around New Zealand and salvaged by the Rainbow Warrior.

Bycatch and orange roughy heads collected by the Rainbow Warrior in the Tasman Sea.