Pulse trawling uses electricity to flush flatfish or shrimp out of the sediments in which they hide. The electric shock makes them convulse and flip upwards, into the net. However, many other fish also suffer fractured vertebrae and internal hemorrhages, leading to death. These other fish that are not the intended targets but are killed anyway, including those with declining stocks such as cod, are not sold for food but are wasted and left to rot in the sea.
Take action and sign Lauren’s petition against pulse trawling now!
Not only does pulse trawling negatively impact the survival of some species of fish, but it also puts the livelihoods of small-scale fishermen at risk.
Fishing in Europe with poisons, explosives and electricity is banned, yet the European Commission has gradually been rescinding the ban on using electricity. Recently the UK government has licensed 12 more ships to use electric pulse trawling across the entire southern North Sea including the region’s Special Area of Conservation.
Petition author Lauren says, “How will anything be conserved if these trawlers are allowed to rip it open every day? What is conservation supposed to mean? This massacre of our oceans needs to be stopped. The mass destruction of species is happening in the ocean as much as on the land.” Please take note and act now by signing her petition.
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