• The UK will extend its ban on destructive seabed trawling to 30,000 square km of protected seas.
• Environment Minister Steve Reed highlighted the urgency to conserve vulnerable marine life.
• The announcement coincides with the UN Ocean Conference focusing on ocean protection legislation.
• Notable figures like David Attenborough support this initiative, stressing the ecological harm of bottom trawling.
• The government will conduct a 12-week consultation with marine and fisheries sectors regarding this ban.

The UK government plans to announce an extension of its ban on "destructive" seabed trawling to protect marine life at the UN Ocean Conference in France. Environment Minister Steve Reed stated that the ban would cover approximately 30,000 square kilometers of English seas, bringing the total to 48,000 square kilometers. Reed emphasized that bottom trawling is detrimental to vulnerable underwater ecosystems and must be addressed immediately, noting that "our seas will be irreversibly damaged if we don't act urgently," according to Indiatimes and Reuters.

Currently, bans are in place over about 18,000 square kilometers of seabed, but this expansion aims to protect marine habitats crucial for species like lobsters and clams. This announcement aligns with calls from naturalist David Attenborough, who criticized the environmental impacts of bottom trawling during a recent interview. He articulated his concerns over the method's destructive nature, which he described as "unspeakably awful," according to Reuters and BBC.

The government has initiated a 12-week consultation period to include feedback from the marine and fisheries sectors about the proposed ban. This consultation is regarded as a long-overdue step in a process begun by previous administrations. The timing of these announcements is critical, as the UN Ocean Conference seeks global cooperation to ratify a treaty focused on protecting international waters and marine environments from overfishing and ecological harm, as highlighted by BBC and Indiatimes.