The Bering Sea contains the world’s broadest continental shelf — an elevated underwater plain — and the most productive fisheries in North America. As ocean currents move north from the Pacific Ocean and the Aleutian basin toward the Arctic Ocean, they bring nutrients from the deep sea toward the surface. This upwelling creates thriving seafloor … Read more
Shark fin soup was once an Asian delicacy reserved for the wealthy but with a growing middle class, shark fin soup is now becoming common fare at weddings, banquets and business meetings. A bowl can cost up to US $100, making the fins easily the most lucrative part of the shark. Since shark meat is … Read more
The Alexander Archipelago contains complex seafloor that is perfect habitat for red tree corals (link to above) (Primnoa sp.), a variety of sponges and anemones (links). Sea whip groves and coral gardens off Kodiak Island are home to a variety of rockfish, king crab (links) and other important species. The rich continental slope dives … Read more
Sharks must be landed with their fins attached. The capture of commercially exploited shark species by EU vessels must be regulated under the Common Fisheries Policy, with fishing limits and quotas. Shark fisheries must be controlled wherever the EU fleet operates – in European waters and worldwide. Migratory shark species exploited on the high seas … 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
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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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