Sally-Ann Hart, the local MP for Hastings and Rye, has joined calls by others, including the Marine Conservative Society, to end the procaine of bottom-towed trawling in the Marine Protection Areas (MPAs).
When backing this campaign, Sally-Ann said, " As an MP for a costal community which I have called home for the best part of quarter of a century I have a deep affection for our marine environments and ensuring we do all we can to protect them. This is why I support the campaign to Save Our MPAs and the work of the Marine Conservation Society.
"The Marine Protection Areas (MPAs) are intended to be ocean sanctuaries for the UK’s iconic wildlife and fragile ecosystems but only 5% of these currently ban bottom trawling. The seabed also captures and holds carbon, so may play an important role in the fight against climate change. Bottom-towed trawling damages the seabed – destroying habitat and releasing carbon.
"This is why I support the call for an end to bottom-towed trawling in our MPAs so we can protect and preserve these marine environments to help in our fight against climate change and to ensure they are here for future generations to enjoy too."