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"We at Greenpeace are delighted that Australia has come out in favor of a moratorium on the destructive practice of unregulated high seas bottom trawling. This is a clear acknowledgement of the negative environmental impacts of this fishing method on ocean ecosystems, as well as a need for immediate action and long-term oceans protection and sustainable management," said Karen Sack, Greenpeace International Ocean Policy Advisor.
Following three years of calls for urgent action, the United Nations General Assembly will finally begin negotiating measures to protect deep-sea marine life on 4-5 October, hopefully leading to the formal adoption of a resolution in November. Brazil, Chile, the Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and Vanuatu are among the countries publicly committed to supporting a UN moratorium.
Scientists have only just begun to explore the complex worlds deep beneath the surface of the oceans, discovering new species and ancient coral reefs wherever they look. Bottom trawling is widely recognized as the most destructive of fishing methods. Heavily weighted bottom trawls fish and scour our ocean floors indiscriminately, destroying everything in their paths. Their use has been compared to clear-cutting a rainforest in order to catch a few rabbits.
More than 1,500 marine scientists from over 60 countries have signed a letter in support of an immediate UN moratorium on high seas bottom trawling.
"The Australian decision to support a moratorium is noteworthy because some of their fishing vessels are engaged in this destructive fishing practice," added John Hocevar, Greenpeace USA Oceans Specialist. "Since no known U.S.-flagged vessels are currently bottom trawling on the high seas, we expect the U.S. government to support the moratorium and work with Australia to secure a strong outcome at the UN over the next two months. It is time for the U.S. government to leave the sidelines on this issue, and take action to defend our oceans, since oceans protection begins on land, this time at the United Nations."