The ever increasing destruction of the sea-floor in New Zealand/ Aotearoa

The ever increasing destruction of the sea-floor in New Zealand/Aotearoa

In the official reporting about fisheries impacts on the seafloor habitats, the Government reports that the annual area trawled has declined over time. However, the annual area trawled is not the correct measure. This is because the recovery of benthic habitats and species can take centuries after fishing has ceased. Therefore, the more important measure is the cumulative impact, rather than the annual impact. The cumulative trawl footprint increases every year.

Read the full report here