Students' art highlights concerns about fishing

Artwork created by students are set to go on display at a festival as part of a campaign calling for greater protection of marine habitats.

The Falmouth University students have teamed up with environmental charity Oceana and Boardmasters festival to produce protest pieces highlighting the impact of bottom trawl fishing.

Boardmasters said the collaboration aimed to use creativity to raise awareness of threats facing the coastline and seas around Cornwall.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said bottom trawling had been banned in more than 100 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and proposals to extend restrictions to a further 41 sites were being considered.

Oceana said in a 2025 report that the MPA off Newquay, where the music and surfing festival takes place from 5 to 9 August, recorded 2,494 hours, or more than 100 days of suspected bottom trawling in 2025.

Bottom trawling involves dragging large weighted nets along the sea floor to catch fish.

Executive director of Oceana UK Hugo Tagholm said it had been "inspiring to work with the Boardmasters team and passionate local arts students" to bring the "vital message" to festival goers.

"We must ensure our marine sanctuaries are properly protected to safeguard ocean health and allow UK seas to thrive once again," he said.

A Defra spokesperson said: "Damaging fishing activities including bottom trawling are banned in over 100 of our Marine Protected Areas and we have recently consulted on proposals to stop bottom trawling in a further 41.

"All our Marine Protected Areas are safeguarded by strict legislation to protect our marine environment and support sustainable fishing, helping industry and local communities to thrive."

Defra said nearly 60% of England's 181 marine protected areas already had management measures in place to protect habitats and species from damaging fishing activities.

Boardmasters director Rob Spring said the work of students could "help shine a spotlight on this vital issue through their creativity".

"It's part of our ongoing effort to protect the coastline we're lucky to call home," he said.

The artworks will be exhibited at the festival's View stage.

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