Bottom trawling is the most harmful fishing method to marine ecosystems, as it involves dragging heavy nets along the seabed, causing significant environmental damage.

This method disrupts the ocean floor, destroying habitats like coral reefs and seagrass beds that are vital for marine biodiversity. Bottom trawling also results in high bycatch rates, capturing non-target species such as juvenile fish, turtles, and other marine animals. This contributes to population declines and disrupts the ecological balance. The sediment stirred up during trawling can also smother benthic organisms and release pollutants trapped in the seabed, further harming marine ecosystems. Sustainable fishing alternatives are encouraged to mitigate these impacts.