Bottom trawling to continue in English protected waters, government rules

Sweden and Greece have banned bottom trawling, and the EU has a goal to ban it in all its marine protected areas by 2030. Photograph: Colin Munro/Alamy

Seabed bottom trawling, described by the chair of a Commons committee as a “destructive” fishing practice, will continue in English marine protected areas (MPAs), the government has announced.

Despite having official designation as protected areas for creatures including dolphins, puffins and seahorses, damaging industrial methods are still allowed to take place.