Andrew Lewin discusses the issue of trawling and the challenges it poses for the government of India. Despite growing concerns about the negative impact of trawling on the environment, the Indian government has been slow to enforce bans on the practice. This is especially problematic as more countries are implementing bans within their exclusive economic zones, leading to Indian fishermen being caught for illegal fishing. The episode explores the historical push towards trawling in India and the need to transition away from this harmful practice. Tune in to learn more about the impact of trawling and what can be done to protect the ocean. Link to article: https://theprint.in/environment/whats-bottom-trawling-the-new-flashpoint-between-india-sri-lanka-and-why-its-still-rampant-in-india/1962236/ Follow a career in conservation: https://www.conservation-careers.com/online-training/ Use the code SUFB to get 33% off courses and the careers program.   Magic Minds: https://www.magicmind.com/protectocean use code PROTECT20 to get up to 56% off your first subscription   Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3NmYvsI Connect with Speak Up For Blue: Website: https://bit.ly/3fOF3Wf Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rIaJSG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@speakupforblue Twitter: https://bit.ly/3rHZxpc  Trawling is a widely used fishing method by commercial fishermen and fishing communities, but it is also highly destructive, causing significant harm to the ocean's health and biodiversity. This practice involves dragging a large net equipped with doors and a chain along the bottom of the ocean, capturing everything in its path. One major concern with trawling is its impact on biodiversity. The scraping of the ocean floor destroys habitats like sponge reefs and soft coral reefs, which take a long time to regenerate. These habitats provide crucial shelter and food sources for many marine species. Additionally, trawling often results in high levels of bycatch, where non-target species and juvenile fish are caught and discarded. This disrupts ecosystem balance and leads to declines in vulnerable species populations. The negative effects of trawling extend beyond the immediate area. This practice can release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. It also disturbs sediment on the ocean floor, releasing stored carbon and contributing to ocean acidification. Despite the known environmental impacts, trawling continues to be extensively practiced in many parts of the world, including India. In fact, over 52% of India's total fishing catch comes from trawl nets. While the government has implemented some measures, such as seasonal bans, enforcement of these regulations is often lacking. This is partly due to historical support for trawling as a major source of fish for the country. To address the destructive nature of trawling, alternatives have been proposed. Increasing the mesh size of trawl nets allows juvenile fish and non-target species to escape, reducing bycatch. Efforts have also been made to transition fishermen to more sustainable fishing methods. For example, the Blue Revolution scheme in India aims to replace trawling boats with deep-sea fishing boats that use targeted methods like gill nets and tuna longlining, which do not damage the seabed. In conclusion, trawling is a highly destructive fishing method that poses significant threats to the ocean's health and biodiversity. It destroys habitats, causes high levels of bycatch, and contributes to climate change and ocean acidification. Efforts to reduce the impact of trawling include increasing mesh sizes, implementing seasonal bans, and transitioning fishermen to more sustainable fishing methods. However, further action and enforcement are needed to protect the ocean from the harmful effects of trawling. The government of India has historically supported trawling as a major source of fish for the country, despite increasing bans on trawling