Bottom Trawling is Drawlin

Author: Jakai Newman, 281

Date: April 19th, 2021

Many people are unaware of the harmful technique used to catch fish. However, it is imperative that this technique and its harmful effects be known. Bottom trawling is a common and convenient method of fishing that utilizes heavy weighted nets that are dragged across the seafloor. This method is favored by commercial fish companies because of its ability to catch large quantities of fish in a single swoop. However, bottom trawling proves to be harmful and destructive to ecosystems and have a negative impact on the environment.

Bottom trawling causes problems because it is indiscriminate to what it catches. As the weighted net drags against the seafloor, it disrupts, and entraps whatever is in its path, including seagrasses, coral forests, and other sea creatures. These sea creatures, who fall victim to the commercial activities of bottom trawling, are captured and discarded, though many are dead by then and displaced from their homes. Oceana, cited in the document titled, Impacts of Bottom Trawling, writes that “Shrimp trawling in the Caribbean and Central America also has high discard rates, with shrimp trawls in Panama discarding more than 80% of their catch”. This consequently affects the biodiversity of the ocean. Rich biodiversity benefits the ecosystem in many ways including: breaking down pollutants, promoting soil formation and protection, increasing the productivity of the organisms living there, and overall maintaining stability of the ecosystem. Trawlers disregard the numerous advantages that the plants, animals, and microorganisms contribute to the ecological community.

Bottom trawling affects, in addition to all regions of the sea that are afflicted with it, the indispensable ecosystems of Coral Sea Forests. Coral Sea Forests are hubs of aquatic life, yet are at the mercy to the destructive practice of bottom trawling. Deep coral sea forests are incredibly biodiverse ecosystems that contain endemic species, which are species that are only found in these ecosystems. They are ancient inhabitants of the ocean, but can be fatally struck by a trawler easily. Coral Sea Forests are located on top of seamounts. Trawlers stalk these seamounts because they are well known gathering spots for fish and marine life. Whales are even known to stop at seamounts during their migration period. The uprooting and destruction of these seamounts, destroy the Coral Sea Forests that live above them.

In their wake, Trawlers leave a displaced ecosystem that has missing living and nonliving members. The fishing economy is prioritized over the health of these ecosystems, and eventually this harm will prevent the ecosystems from providing enough fish for the fishing economy. In this way, the Fisherman who use the practice of bottom trawling are dooming themselves.