Failure to ban bottom trawling a missed opportunity

Environmental groups are disappointed the government has not banned bottom trawling completely in the Hauraki Gulf, despite intense lobbying to stop the practice. Members of the Hauraki Gulf Alliance, a diverse group of organisations including LegaSea, Forest & Bird, WWF-NZ and Greenpeace, said the decision to allow ‘trawl corridors’ in the marine park went against public opinion and scientific evidence that showed it destroyed marine ecosystems. Greenpeace oceans campaigner Ellie Hooper said the government had missed a massive opportunity. “Bottom trawling is the most destructive fishing ...