Marine Protected Areas: Bottom Trawling
2026-06-22 · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs · 12436 · Official question
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Department is taking towards a ban on bottom trawling in inshore waters.
Answer
Our comprehensive network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), now covering 40% of English waters, and over 50% of inshore waters, restrict bottom trawling in sensitive areas. Not all MPAs require restrictions on bottom trawling for example some mobile speci...