Mcconnaughey, Robert A, et al. “Choosing Best Practices for Managing Impacts of Trawl Fishing on Seabed Habitats and Biota.” Fish and fisheries (Oxford, England) 21, no. 2 (2020): 319–337.
This paper reviews the available scientific evidence on how trawl fishing affects seabed habitats and benthic organisms, and how these impacts can be effectively managed. The authors show that impacts vary widely depending on gear design, fishing intensity and habitat type, with naturally dynamic seabeds generally more resilient than stable, sensitive habitats. The review finds that management measures targeting where, how and how often fishing occurs—such as gear modifications, effort control and spatial planning—are more effective than broad gear bans.
Importantly, the study highlights that many fisheries already operate in ways that minimise additional seabed impact, particularly where effort is concentrated on historically fished grounds. Overall the article indicates that there is no universal best practice, and multiple management measures and industry actions are required to meet sustainability objectives and improve trade-offs between food production and environmental protection.
