David Attenborough calls for halt to ‘damaging’ fishing and wind farm practices

The naturalist and TV presenter delivered a challenge to politicians and the public at the end of a year that has seen Yorkshire established as a hotspot for “marine eco-tourism” following the sighting of increasing numbers of minke whales.

Sir David, writing in the Wildlife Trusts’ 2020 Marine Review, criticised the continuing practice of bottom-towed fishing, which, though effective in catching fish and shellfish, involves dragging heavy equipment over the sea floor.

He said: “Our seas are protected by a blue belt of marine protected areas but sadly this does not prevent damaging activities still occurring in these special places.

“Bottom-towed dredging and trawling destroys fragile sea fans and soft corals on the seabed, while dredging to install cables to offshore wind farms changes the seabed and its wildlife forever.”

Sir David, who is president emeritus of the Wildlife Trusts, added: “We are all aware of the problems presented by plastic litter, but some pollutants and impacts are hidden from view, beneath the surface of the waves.

“Our Government needs to tackle these problems but we can all do our bit, too.”

Joan Edwards, director of living seas for the Trusts, added: “It’s vital we recognise that the future of life on earth is inseparable from the health of the sea.

“Our oceans are in trouble and the UK will not achieve its climate and environmental targets without restoring marine habitats.”

The enthusiasm with which spectators had flocked to Yorkshire to catch sight of usually solitary minke wales off the coast demonstrated the level of interest in marine life, Ms Edwards said.

“People flocked to the sea as soon as lockdown restrictions were lifted – they needed the coast as never before,” she said.

“People delighted in seeing marine life and it lifted the hearts of millions. However, we have taken these wonders for granted for too long.”

As well as the minke whales, a much larger humpback whale was captured on camera off the Yorkshire coast this year. It was filmed breaching the water in a video circulated on social media, prompting some observers to say that the county had become “the new Cornwall” for marine spotting.

Bex Lynam, marine advocacy officer at the North Sea Wildlife Trusts, said: “The public witnessed spectacular minke marvels, from watching the arc of their dorsal fins slicing through the still ocean waters, to the thrilling experience of standing on dry land and spotting these majestic marine mammals feeding just 100 metres off the Yorkshire coastline.

“We need to understand why these extraordinary creatures inhabit our waters and investment in research is badly needed if we’re to protect whales from the impacts of human activity, such as offshore wind developments or supertrawlers.”

Northern minke whales can grow up to 32ft in length and weigh up to six tons. They can dive up to 200m beneath the waves and typically feed on shoals of fish, devouring hundreds at a time, in large mouthfuls.

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is partner in a “citizen science” project recording sightings of whales, dolphins and porpoise off the east coast. Some 40 volunteers spent more than 200 hours watching them from 30 locations this year, with the number of surveys up by a third on the previous year.

Further up the coast in Teesside, where 30 bottlenose dolphins seen “partying” on a single day in August, Jacky Watson of the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust said: “It was a complete revelation for lots of local people and a gift for photographers. Many people had no idea bottlenose dolphins could be seen in UK waters, let alone here.”

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