Is bottom trawling for fish bad for the climate?

More than two thirds of our planet is covered by the oceans, but
there’s still much to be uncovered about the role that these
watery worlds play in climate change. But recent scientific
research claims that bottom trawling, a method of fishing that
involves dragging heavy nets across the seafloor, emits about the
same amount of carbon annually as aviation. Seabed sediments,
which act as huge carbon sinks, are churned up, resulting in
carbon dioxide emissions. So should trawling – commonplace around
the globe because of its effectiveness – be reduced? And has the
climate change impact of bottom trawling been exaggerated?
Presenters Neal Razzell and Graihagh Jackson are joined by: Dr
Enric Sala, explorer in residence, National Geographic Barrie
Deas, chief executive of the National Federation of Fishermen's
Organisations Minna Epps, director, Global Marine and Polar
Programme Domitilla Senni, senior campaigner, MedReAct Producer:
Darin Graham Series producer: Rosamund Jones Editor: Emma Rippon