The Azorean government has had the wisdom to ensure that bottom trawlers are not allowed to trawl here, meaning the coral habitats are relatively pristine. Elsewhere things are not so good, bottom trawlers are laying waste to fragile deep sea communities and literally stripping the deep seas of entire populations of vulnerable deep sea fish such as orange roughy.

In exactly one month it will be World Oceans Day - a day when we should all consider the plight of the oceans and seas that sustain us. One immediate step that Governments could take is to stop the destruction to vulnerable deep sea and seamount habitats throughout the oceans is support a United Nations moratorium on high seas bottom trawling. This would give time for scientists to find out more about the ecology of these areas which can then help policy makers decide what measures ought to be put in place to ensure their protection.

Time is running out - help us stop the clock!

After two years of talk, the time is running out for the deep seas and governments around the world need to pledge their support for a moratorium.

Take action now and help pressure world governments to 'Stop the Clock' and support a moratorium on high seas bottom trawling. (Please note: This action is in English).

Thank you for your help.

- Richard