Bottom trawling triples in key marine protected area despite Brexit promise

Analysis by the Marine Conservation Society shows dredging at England's Dogger Bank site has increased despite government pledge to ban the practice

The government is under pressure to safeguard Britain's marine conservation areas after analysis showed the Dogger Bank protected site has seen a threefold increase in destructive bottom trawling since Brexit.

A year ago, conservationists welcomed government proposals to ban trawling and dredging fishing practices, which involve dragging weighted nets over the seabed, in 14,030 sq km (5,400 sq miles) of English waters, an area equivalent to the size of Northern Ireland. The area includes Dogger Bank and three other marine protected areas (MPAs).