Philippines bans Danish seine fishing nets

The Philippines said Wednesday it is banning the use of heavy-weighted fishing nets that drag along the ocean floor inflicting damage to seabed communities and coral reefs.

The ban on “Danish seine” fishing nets will take effect in mid-March, giving hundreds of fishing boats time to switch their equipment, said Asis Perez, head of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

“This is because of their adverse effect on the environment. They (the nets) have weights attached to them, it drags on the ocean floor, it hits the corals and damages the marine life,” he told AFP.

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