Monday, August 10, 2009

Greenpeace drops boulders in Swedish waters to protect marine life from bottom trawling

http://www.treehugger.com/greenpeace-ship.jpg 

Activists with Greenpeace have begun placing massive granite rocks in Swedish waters to prevent fishing boats from bottom trawling in sensitive areas.

The organization accuses the Swedish government of failing to protecting the areas of Fladen, Lilla Middlegrund, and Kattegat from bottom trawling, an invasive technique that drags nets along the sea bottom disrupting seabed communities. Sweden has said in the past that the areas in question require protection and they have been listed under Natura 2000, a network of protected areas in the EU.

"The Swedish government needs to fulfil its commitment to protect the area and put a permanent ban on fishing in Fladen and Lilla Middelgrund," said Isadora Wronski, Greenpeace ocean campaigner.

"Throughout Europe, marine protection only exists on paper. Our seas cannot wait any longer, their survival is at stake and politicians need to take action and implement laws that will protect the life of the seas today and for the future," Wronski added, defending Greenpeace’s controversial strategy. …

Greenpeace drops boulders in Swedish waters to protect marine life from bottom trawling

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