Finch-Saunders brands seabed destruction a ‘national disgrace’

A CALL to ban bottom trawling in Welsh waters was made in the Senedd this week, with Conservative MS Janet Finch-Saunders criticising what she described as the Welsh Government’s “rudderless” approach to marine protection.

Speaking during a debate on Monday (July 9), the Aberconwy MS said bottom trawling – the practice of dragging weighted nets across the seabed – was among the most “wasteful and destructive” forms of fishing.

“It is a national disgrace that this Welsh Government is allowing such destructive and wasteful practices to take place,” she told members.

Finch-Saunders warned that bottom trawling destroys seabed habitats, releases high levels of carbon, and results in the death of untargeted marine life. She said it was currently restricted in less than 1% of Welsh waters, with protections only in place around Skomer Island – one of 139 marine protected areas (MPAs) around Wales.

‘Incompatible with protection’

Describing the method as “incompatible” with the aims of MPAs, she urged the Welsh Government to introduce a wider ban, pointing to the UK Government’s consultation on banning bottom trawling in 41 English MPAs, covering over 30,000km².

Finch-Saunders said: “Stopping this wicked trawling in MPAs would be one of the most impactful steps that this Welsh Government could take in meeting nature and climate commitments for protecting and effectively managing 30% of our sea by 2030.”

She referenced a ban in Lyme Bay, south-west England, which resulted in a 430% increase in species richness, saying it demonstrated the potential for marine recovery.

Scallop dredging and Gower cockling raised

Labour MS Joyce Watson echoed concerns, raising long-standing opposition to scallop dredging in Cardigan Bay’s special area of conservation.

“Scallop dredging, like other forms of dredging, is an incredibly destructive fishing practice – the entire structure of the seabed is damaged as rakes are dragged along,” she said.

Labour’s Carolyn Thomas shared her horror at scenes in David Attenborough’s Ocean documentary, but said there was hope: “It did say there was hope, that if bottom trawling ended – the ecosystems, the biodiversity could soon recover.”

Meanwhile, Conservative MS Tom Giffard warned of unsustainable cockling in Penclawdd, Gower, after legislative changes led to an influx of gatherers.

“Residents are very worried that the seabed is not being protected and the future viability of cockles in Penclawdd is not being protected either,” he said.

Calls for balance

Saundersfoot’s razor clam harvesting also came under fire, with Conservative MS Sam Kurtz describing the practice as extractive and poorly controlled, even when done for “personal use”.

However, James Evans MS cautioned against overregulation, stressing the need to consider fishermen’s livelihoods.

“I do worry sometimes about banning things or overregulation for the simple reason that a lot of our fishermen make a living out of the sea,” he said.

Welsh Government response

Responding to the debate, Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said bottom trawling around Wales was “relatively limited” and pointed to joint management of the king scallop fishery with England as an example of sustainable practice.

“We have robust management processes in place to protect our marine environment,” he said. “And we will react to any evidence which confirms the need for additional measures.”

He pledged a “proportionate, evidence-led” approach to any future restrictions.