Story: Marine conservation

A net from the ocean floor

A net from the ocean floor

This is the wholesale harvest from bottom trawling, in which an enormous net is pulled along the sea floor to catch species such as orange roughy. The haul includes many species (sea urchins, crabs, other fish) that are of no commercial value. These unwanted creatures are dumped overboard. Many scientists and environmentalists are calling for a moratorium on bottom trawling.

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NIWA – National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research

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How to cite this page:

Gerard Hutching and Carl Walrond, 'Marine conservation - Fisheries', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/5823/a-net-from-the-ocean-floor (accessed 30 April 2024)

Story by Gerard Hutching and Carl Walrond, published 12 Jun 2006, updated 1 Sep 2015