Patagonia launches global campaign to save our oceans: A call to action against trawling

ByTravesía Pirenaica
Patagonia launches global campaign to protect the ocean so it can protect us
Europeans call on governments to put an end to bottom trawling, starting with an immediate ban in marine protected areas and coastal zones.

Amsterdam, 8 June 2023 - On World Oceans Day 2023 (8 June), Patagonia is launching a global environmental campaign, focused on protecting and restoring the oceans. Through a series of films, a dedicated website, petitions and events across Europe, Patagonia will mobilise people and call on governments to put an end to trawling by imposing an end to the use of trawl fishing. immediate prohibition in marine protected areas and coastal zones.

In Europe, the campaign's partners include the NGOs Bloom, Blue Ventures, ClientEarth, Environmental Justice Foundation, Oceana e Seas At Risk.

Connecting us through food, tradition and sport, our ocean is home to many thriving life forms and also a powerful climate solution. Yet the practice of trawling threatens to destroy this precious resource, devastating the seabed, harming artisanal fisheries and exacerbating the climate crisis.

Bottom trawling is one of the most damaging practices inflicted by man on our oceans: it destroys seabed ecosystems, overexploits fishing grounds and indiscriminately kills all forms of life, from turtles to rays to sharks.

It also has a huge impact on the climate. Dragging nets along the seabed consumes more fuel and produces four times more emissions than other types of fishing. It destroys sediments and eradicates marine plants and animals that absorb carbon from the atmosphere. The oceans absorb a quarter of all the carbon dioxide we produce, but trawling threatens to destroy this precious resource. We must protect our ocean so that it can continue to protect us.

Patagonia will use the campaign and films to promote regenerative alternatives to this destructive industrial practice, such as 3D ocean algae farming and Posidonia restoration. As fishermen with small and low-impact activities make up about half of the European fishing workforce, which is often affected by trawling, Patagonia offers them a platform and calls for support in the necessary transition.

The campaign is being launched at a critical time for the protection of Europe's marine environment, with a growing biodiversity crisis and a heated debate on European initiatives such as the Nature Restoration Act and the Oceans Action Plan.

The series of eight short documentaries tells the stories of people from around the world, from South Korea to Chilean Patagonia, Portugal and Wales, who take matters into their own hands and show us how we can work with our ocean, not against it.

Films telling stories of European seabed restoration include:

  • For the Love of the Seathe story of Nikki Spill of The Seaweed Farmers, who works with Câr y Môr, Wales' first community-owned regenerative ocean farm.
  • Mother Sea focuses on marine biologist Raquel Gaspar and a group of local fishermen who are restoring the posidonia meadows of the Sado Estuary Nature Reserve in Portugal against damage caused by trawling.
  • The Custodians follows the work of four people on the west coast of Scotland who are restoring their natural coastline, restoring wildlife and creating sustainable industries.

The films will be touring Europe this summer, in a series of free events with expert panels, music and stories.

Beth Thoren, Director of Environmental Action and Initiatives EMEA at Patagonia, says: "Throughout my life I have always felt connected to the ocean, from the beginning of my career as a marine engineer to later in life when I was part of the crew of a Sea Shepherd ship fighting whaling in Antarctica. But I am not alone. Wherever we are, the ocean is a source of energy and vitality. It is imperative that we protect this precious and fragile resource so that it can protect us.
"Our European leaders have the power in their hands to make lasting positive change by stopping bottom trawling and supporting a just transition to practices that restore the ocean. We are asking ocean advocates everywhere, from surfers, swimmers and those who simply love to walk or paddle on the beach, to coastal communities and fishermen, to link arms and send a message that we care.

Our European leaders have the power to bring about positive and lasting change by ending trawling and supporting a just transition to practices that restore the oceans. We call on ocean advocates around the world, from surfers, swimmers and those who simply like to stroll or paddle along the beach, to coastal communities and fishermen, to join forces and send the message that we care.

Find out more and sign the petition at eu.patagonia.com/oceans.