The fishing business : Natural Environment Research Council welcomes new report.

The daily business of fishing and trawling and its effect on the marine environment is scrutinised in a new report from the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, published Tuesday, 7 December 04.

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) welcomes the report, which is expected to highlight the extent of damage caused by overfishing and dredging of the seabed.

NERC is currently exploring the potential for a new programme, ‘Science for Sustainable Marine Bioresources’, working with other organisations that have an interest in marine sustainability, conservation and exploitation.

Dr Phil Newton, Marine Science Programmes Manager for NERC, says, ‘ Climate change and human activities are driving dramatic and widespread changes in the marine environment. If we are going to solve some of the associated problems, we must do more innovative and joined up research that uses all the sciences – natural, social and economic. We’re committed to working with partners in academia, government, NGOs and industry to work out the best research agenda.”

NERC has already held workshops and an open meeting, with inputs from a broad community of scientists and other stakeholders, to scope initial ideas. NERC would be interested to know what others think are priorities for research in this area of marine science. Ideas can be submitted to NERC via an online ‘pinboard’ at: http://www.nerc.ac.uk/consult/pinboard/