"Industry, Enviros Gird for U.N. Battle Over Deep-Sea Trawling"

"UNITED NATIONS -- Conservationists and the international fishing industry are gearing up for another showdown over the fishing method known as bottom trawling next month, when U.N. officials return to what has probably been the most intensely debated fisheries issue to feature here over the last decade."



"U.N. officials are hosting talks on deep-sea trawling in mid-November in what could be the lead up to a new resolution passed by the body in December. That would make three such resolutions passed in the space of five years if the U.N. General Assembly votes in favor.

The most recent resolutions on the practice, passed in 2006 and 2009, have come under fire by a number of environmental groups for what they see as soft implementation by flag nations that may be guilty of ignoring the damage that can result from raking deep-sea ecosystems. Others have noted progress since the topic was last broached at the United Nations that could be improved by better coordination."

Colin Sullivan reports for Greenwire October 12, 2011.

Source: Greenwire, 10/13/2011