Press call: Journalists invited to Poole Quay for loading of boulders onto Greenpeace ship

Greenpeace UK is preparing to return to the South West Deeps (East) Marine Protected Area to extend the protective boulder barrier they created on 1 September.

Tomorrow (Thursday 8 September) activists and crew will load eight more boulders onto Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise, which is currently docked in Poole Quay in Dorset.

Bottom-trawling is a hugely destructive type of fishing as it tears up marine habitats by dragging heavy nets across the seafloor. Extending the boulder barrier will give further protection to one of the South West Deeps’ most heavily fished areas.

Will McCallum, Head of Oceans at Greenpeace UK, said: “Since we created a boulder barrier a week ago to block destructive bottom-trawling in the South West Deeps, the government hasn’t shown any intention to stop industrial fishing boats from devastating the area. So, we are planning to extend the boulder barrier we’ve just created to add even more protection.

“Local fishermen are being left with no fish to catch. They’re struggling to make a living while facing the unprecedented cost of living crisis. Our new Prime Minister Liz Truss must immediately ban destructive fishing in every UK Marine Protected Area by tweaking commercial fishing licences. The government already has the power to do this; all they need is the will to make it happen.”