Greenpeace said the inert boulders, which they were spacing at precise intervals inside the Dogger Bank protected area, would not have a significant impact on the seabed but would stop destructive bottom trawling. return context; This is only 1% of the entire Dogger Bank protected area, and it’s just the beginning. Greenpeace commissioned an independent scientific agency, BioLaGu, to conduct a Natura 2000 Environmental Impact Assessment on the potential impact of the activity. } Greenpeace drops boulders in North Sea conservation zone to prevent illegal fishing. It might sound a little strange to hear that Greenpeace has been placing giant boulders into the Dogger Bank Marine Protected Area. Read also Greenpeace … Bottom trawlers drag heavily weighted nets across the seabed - ripping up everything in their path - … if (false) { Another set of boulders will be placed in the coming days. 11 out of 19 bottom trawlers observed fishing in the Dogger Bank in June 2020 were AIS dark, a serious breach of UK and international maritime law. Environmental campaigners have begun dropping granite boulders into a protected area of the North Sea to stop destructive fishing. By Chris Thorne, Oceans Campaigner, Greenpeace UK. Greenpeace is committed to properly protecting the Dogger Bank, and will continue to expand the new area off limits to bottom trawling until the UK Government properly protects the Dogger Bank. This would pave the way for 30% of our oceans being fully protected by 2030. //