Just released research from the University of Otago shows bottom trawling on the sea floor can exacerbate climate change.
Scientists say their modelling shows that when heavy chains and nets are dragged on the sea floor, its natural alkalinity production is reduced at an amount equivalent to losing two to eight milliion tonnes of CO2 storage per year.
About a third of all the carbon dioxide we've emitted has been sequestered by the moana.
Lead author Dr Sebastiaan van de Velde is based at the University of Otago's Department of Marine Science and speaks to Susie.
Photo: Dredge
