Background (Preamble): Mr. Steiner, former Director General of the World Conservation Union (IUCN), current Executive Director of UNEP, said "Deep sea bottom trawling is an act of insanity and should become subject to prosecution.

We are just beginning to scratch the surface in terms of our knowledge of open ocean species and ecosystems at all depths, and realize the urgency of protecting them from degradation through over-harvesting and destructive fishing practices such as deep sea bottom trawling. We must protect the high seas before it's too late. It must become priority for UNEP in 2006. "

“Because of dwindling fish stocks, women no longer have sufficient work and do not earn enough to pay for essentials for their families like health, education and three basic meals a day. Europe is playing a major role in this growing catastrophe,” says Faty Kane, campaigns officer at ActionAid Senegal in 2007.

Several years have passed and either the legislation or enforcements are lacking. Still the destruction went on.