Growing up near the beautiful Northern Beaches of Sydney, I've witnessed firsthand the wonders of our marine environment—the diversity of life, the serenity of the ocean, and the essential role it plays in our community. I’ve swam with blue groupers at Shelly Beach, watched whales leap from the waves at Avalon Headlands, explored rock pools, finding small octopuses and fish, been smashed by fresh, cold saltwater on a windy day with my friends. I’ve spent my life on the beach.

To think that when I grow up, there may be no more coral reefs, no more clean ocean, it brings me great sadness. This is the world I am going to grow up and live in, and I want to make sure we don’t ruin it. We only have one ocean, and this is possibly our last chance to save it. If we don’t act now, we may not have a safe ocean for others to enjoy in the future.

What is Bottom Trawling?
Bottom trawling is a destructive fishing practice that involves dragging heavy nets across the sea floor, indiscriminately capturing marine life and destroying delicate ecosystems. This method not only jeopardises fish populations but also damages habitats that are crucial for biodiversity. Studies show that bottom trawling is responsible for significant environmental degradation, including the destruction of coral reefs and seafloor structures that take centuries to form and provide crucial refuge for endangered species.

As well as killing hundreds of fish waste fully, bottom trawling also causes fish to suffer. While it is illegal for any stock [cows, pigs, chickens] to suffer an inhumane death, this is not the same for fish. Any fish that are caught by a bottom trawler are pulled onto the ship, then slowly die of suffocation. This is a horrible, inhumane death that nothing should have to suffer. And to think that this happens to millions of fish a day makes me sick.

In Sydney's Northern Beaches, our environment is our heritage. The impact of bottom trawling is evident: depleted fish stocks, damaged ecosystems, and a loss of marine life. According to the Australian Marine Conservation Society, the practice contributes to about 25% of global marine catch, yet it causes severe damage to the seabed, churning up all of the sediment. This causes the seabed to release harmful gases like Carbon Dioxide at an alarming rate. Bottom trawlers also destroy ancient coral reefs, endangered sponge gardens and towering kelp forests.

We understand that removing all bottom trawling is not an option for now. Scientists say that if we protect at least 30% of our ocean from bottom trawling, less than half, it will be able to bounce back and continue providing the air we breathe. So, this is the start. The start is here, in our community. We have to protect smaller regions first, to get the ball rolling. Benefits of making this change include:

The spillover of fish from protected areas will push species back into less populated areas, and also will provide a catch of higher value. Endangered and near extinct species will be able to recover, as long as we give them the chance. It’s a win win situation.

To preserve our marine environment for future generations, it is crucial that the Northern Beaches Council takes action by banning bottom trawling. By eliminating this harmful practice, we can help establish balance to our ecosystems, protect our coral reefs, and ensure that the ocean is going to last for hundreds of years more.

We urge the Northern Beaches Council, and our government, to implement a ban on bottom trawling to protect our ocean, our home. This action will showcase our commitment to environmental protection and having a sustainable resource, setting an example for other regions to follow.
Your support in signing this petition can bring about change and help usher in a future where our ocean is vibrant, healthy, and thriving for generations to come. Join us, sign this petition and make a change, be all those small, innocent fishies heroes. Save their lives.

From our small [but hopefully growing] group at

#1ocea