Students Cast Spotlight on Ocean Woes with Bold Art at Boardmasters Festival

Students from Falmouth University have created artwork to highlight the problems caused by commercial fishing, especially bottom trawling, and its effects on marine life. Their pieces will be displayed at the Boardmasters festival, which takes place near Newquay. The students worked with Oceana, an environmental charity, and the festival organizers to make protest posters and art that show how fishing methods can harm the ocean. One poster features the words 'PROTECTED IN NAME ALONE' in large green letters, with pink fish trapped in a big net. Another poster says 'STOP OVER FISHING' in bold red and black letters, showing a fishing net hanging under a boat.

The main issue the students are focusing on is bottom trawling. This is a fishing method where boats drag heavy nets along the sea floor to catch fish. It can destroy habitats and harm many sea creatures. Even though there are Marine Protected Areas, which are supposed to keep the ocean safe, there have been reports of bottom trawling happening for over 100 days in the protected area near Newquay last year. The students and Oceana want to raise awareness about this problem and encourage people to protect marine habitats.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) says that bottom trawling is banned in more than 100 Marine Protected Areas, and they are considering banning it in 41 more. They say these areas are protected by strict rules to keep the marine environment safe and support sustainable fishing. Nearly 60 percent of England's 181 Marine Protected Areas already have rules to protect habitats and species from harmful fishing. Hugo Tagholm, the executive director of Oceana UK, said it was inspiring to work with the students and festival team to share this important message. Rob Spring, the director of Boardmasters, said the students' art can help bring attention to the issue and is part of their effort to protect the coastline. The artwork will be shown at the festival's View stage, helping festival goers learn more about the importance of protecting the sea.