Nations Drop Seamount Trawling Ban Proposal
Governments withdrew a plan to end bottom trawling on international seamounts after persistent opposition during UN fisheries negotiations.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Environmental
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Armenia's proposal to end bottom trawling on seamounts in international waters by December 2027 was withdrawn during UN General Assembly talks on the Sustainable Fisheries Resolution. Japan, the EU, Russia, the US and Australia opposed it, while Monaco, the UK, Canada and several Pacific and Asian nations supported it.
Why it matters
Seamounts host ancient corals and sponges, some of which take thousands of years to grow, and a single trawling pass can destroy their habitat. The withdrawal leaves governments without a new commitment to protect these vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems, though existing UN marine protection commitments remain in force.
The figures come from UN General Assembly negotiation positions, with a proposed end date of December 2027 for seamount bottom trawling. The final resolution is expected in December, and the proposal's withdrawal leaves its outcome unresolved.
The players
United Nations General Assembly
The UN's main deliberative body, where member states negotiate resolutions including the Sustainable Fisheries Resolution.
Armenia
The state that introduced the proposal to end seamount bottom trawling during the fisheries negotiations.
The details
Armenia introduced the proposal during discussions on the UN Sustainable Fisheries Resolution. Persistent opposition from several governments led to its withdrawal rather than risk amendments that would undermine its objectives.
Timeline
December 2027: Proposed deadline for ending seamount bottom trawling.
December 2026: Expected formal adoption of the Sustainable Fisheries Resolution.
January 2027: First Conference of the Parties to the BBNJ Agreement.
The Big Picture
The withdrawal occurs ahead of the first Conference of the Parties to the BBNJ Agreement in January 2027, which will shape how high-seas marine protections are put into practice. Seamount protection now depends on that framework and on existing Convention on Migratory Species commitments.
For consumers, the seamount decision has no immediate effect on seafood prices or availability, since the fishing practices it concerns happen in deep international waters. Its practical significance lies in whether deep-sea habitats that take thousands of years to recover remain open to bottom trawling.
The takeaway
Protecting seamounts depends on rules that are still being written, so the next UN negotiations will determine whether their ancient ecosystems receive binding safeguards. Readers following ocean policy should watch the December 2026 resolution vote and the January 2027 BBNJ meeting.
What happens next
The Sustainable Fisheries Resolution is expected to be formally adopted in December 2026, and the first BBNJ Agreement Conference of the Parties is scheduled for January 2027.
Further reading
Explore more Environmental coverage for context on ocean and deep-sea protection efforts.
Source note: This article includes information reported by World Fishing & Aquaculture.
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