Bottom trawlers drag heavy metal gear and nets that can weigh several tonnes across the seafloor, scooping up almost all life in their path.

This damaging form of fishing has specific severe impacts across the marine ecosystem and is rampant in areas designed to safeguard some of Britain’s most beloved wildlife such as puffins and porpoises, the new Oceana UK report Trawled and Mauled has revealed.

Currently, there are no UK marine protected areas (MPAs) designated for whales, dolphins or porpoises that are fully protected from bottom trawling across the whole site, and only two for seabirds.