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Hi i'm Paulina and i'm a leader of the Polish group. Our bilateral partners this year are Costa Rica and Cuba. Sadly, Cuba couldn't join our online conference due to some government issues but i'm still so pleased that we had a chance to meet online with students from Costa Rica. Their case study was focused on bottom trawl fishing.
Lately Costa Rica's government approved bottom trawl fishing, that in fact was banned in the previous years. This practice is extremely dangerous for species living in the ocean. The big net that goes under the water actually catches everything that is on its path. That means fishes, shrimps, endangered species and color reefs. This way fishers kills millions of species living in the ocean. That aspect wasn't taken into consideration by the government. This practice is a massive threat to the biodiversity of Costa Rica (that accounts for 5% of the world's biodiversity).
Our meeting encouraged me to google some information about trawling in Poland and EU. I found out that the European Union (including Poland and the Baltic States) made a political commitment to the protection of cold-water corals and fishes from bottom trawl fishing. The European Parliament, Council and Commission reached an agreement that bans all trawling fishing below 800m depth and that stops bottom fishing activity below 400m. These actions protect 4.9 million km2 – an area larger than the EU itself.
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4 Comment(s)
Hey Paulina,
I believe that trawling is a big issue in Australia too, as it puts all the animals and plants in danger. I am glad that the government is combatting this problem and I enjoyed learning about your case study.
-Mitchell, Townsville, Australia
Paulina I am Kiana from Calgary Alberta
I also think the sea trawling is a big issue as well. With trawling it puts all the animals in danger and the plants as well. I am a huge animal person I actually have own pets at home. Lastly, I am also good that goverement is taking action on this problem because if there is no fish in the oceans than their would be less food for people. I loved your case study and learning about Costa Rica that you wrote in your blog.
Hey Paulina,
I'm Maya from Calgary, Canada
It sounds like you had a great time at your bilateral conference and discussed a lot of important topics and case studies. Bottom Trawl fishing sounds like a horrible thing, and it's unfathomable that Costa Rica's government would approve such a process, (especially knowing that marine ecosystems are already being harmed due to rising sea temperatures). I like how you felt inclined to do your own research on bottom trawl fishing in Poland, it was quite interesting to hear because I myself am from Poland! (I just live in Canada). Like Taylor, I have similar questions about how the European Union came to decide to ban trawling.
Thanks for the great response!
Hi Paulina, I just wanted to ask, did the youth get involved for the European Parliament, commission and council to come to the agreement to ban the trawl fishing below 800m depth. How was the government persuaded into reaching that decision? Were there petitions? Were there protests?
Thank you for your information!!!!
Mitchell Brown
Nov 15, 2020