Did you know that the climate change is the main cause of the disappearance of corals and gorgonians in the Mediterranean? Increased global temperature is causing a series of significant changes around the world. Melting ice caps and glaciers cause the sea level to rise, hurricanes are stronger and more frequent, droughts alternate with floods … Read more
In the southeast U.S., deep-sea corals (link) create oases of special habitat along the coast and are extremely vulnerable to certain kinds of fishing such as bottom trawling and dredging (links). Both corals and fisheries are managed by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (link). In 2004, the Council responded to the convincing data … Read more
Without complex habitats, populations of the fish that depend on structured habitats may suffer population declines, take longer to recover from other threats such as overfishing or be displaced by other species. The virtual disappearance of deep-sea coral influences fish distribution in the area, depriving fish of refuge from predators, removing spawning or rearing areas … Read more
In the northeast United States, there are at least 25 different species of both hard and soft deep-sea corals (link). These coral are long-lived and fragile, making them vulnerable to destructive fishing (link) practices. Although little is known about even the most abundant deep-sea coral in New England, it is clear they are important animals … Read more
Bottom trawls have a footrope (the bottom lip of the net) that can span over 150 feet in width and can be lined with heavy rollers or rockhoppers that look like old tires and measure more than 30 inches in diameter. The larger trawls can drag over a half-acre swath with each pass. The damage … Read more
The Gulf of Mexico is home to an abundance of amazing creatures, both in shallow waters and the deep sea: from the surface where bluefin tuna (link) spawn to the coral (link) gardens where sharks (link) lay their eggs. Not only is it an area with increasing fishing pressure, but it is a rich … Read more
Deep-sea corals and sponges , some of the oldest animals on Earth, grow at the rate of just a few millimeters each year and live for thousands of years. In recent years, NOAA and other scientific organizations worldwide have discovered that the majority of the coral species found in the world’s oceans live in deep … Read more
Deep-sea corals and sponges, some of the oldest animals on Earth, grow at the rate of just a few millimeters each year and can live for thousands of years. In recent years, scientists worldwide have discovered that the majority of the coral species found in the world’s oceans live in deep or cold waters. Deep-sea … Read more
Not so long ago, many scientists assumed the ocean floor was a vast plain, lifeless and without currents. In the 1960s, scientists using early submersibles discovered that the ocean bottom is made up of familiar landscape features including great plains, deep canyons, mountain ridges and large seafloor hills, known as seamounts. Like land-based environments, life … Read more
In order to reduce sea turtle injury and death, modifications can be made to certain types of fishing gear, including the following examples: Circle hooks Circle hooks can significantly reduce the number of hooks that are lethally ingested by turtles. Unlike J-hooks, which tend to be swallowed by sea turtles as they ingest the baited … Read more
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We have already protected nearly 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done.
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