'Disgrace to allow bottom trawling': MS

A SENEDD member called for restrictions on bottom trawling to protect Wales' seabeds as she criticised the current "rudderless" marine protection policy.

- CHRIS HAINES

Janet Finch-Saunders said she could hardly imagine a more wasteful way of catching fish than bottom trawling, which involves dragging heavy nets across the sea floor.

The Conservatives' shadow climate secretary told the Senedd: "It is a national disgrace that this Welsh Government is allowing such destructive and wasteful practices to take place."

Ms Finch-Saunders warned: "These practices effectively bulldoze through and destroy seabed habitats. They release high levels of carbon and they catch untargeted marine life."

She stated bottom trawling is excluded in less than 1% of seas, with restrictions around Skomer Island - only one of the 139 marine protected areas (MPAs) surrounding Wales.

Ms Finch-Saunders described the "destructive" method of fishing as "incompatible" with MPAs, which are meant to be sanctuaries for marine life.