CORALS OF THE GULF OF ALASKA
The Alexander Archipelago contains complex seafloor that is perfect habitat for red tree corals (Primnoa sp.), a variety of sponges, and anemones. Red tree corals can live over 500 years and grow up to 10 feet tall. Sea whip groves and coral gardens off Kodiak Island are home to a variety of rockfish, king crab, and other important species. The rich continental slope dives deep to the Aleutian Trench in the western Gulf. Seamounts, or underwater mountains, are scattered throughout the Gulf of Alaska and contain dense coral gardens far out at sea.
|
Irresponsible bottom trawling threatens the corals of the continental slope and areas of the shelf near Kodiak Island. The major trawl fisheries impacting corals and sponges in the Gulf of Alaska target rockfish, deepwater flatfish, and Pacific cod. Most of the Gulf of Alaska trawl fleet fishes out of Kodiak. From 1997 to 1999, NOAA Fisheries estimates that an average of over 24,000 pounds of corals and sponges were caught, killed, and discarded as bycatch each year, mostly by bottom trawling.
Recently the North Pacific Fishery Management Council unanimously voted to protect more than 7,000 square kilometers in the Gulf from destructive bottom trawling. In addition, the Council voted to protect the named seamounts in the Gulf. Explorations of the Gulf seamounts in the summer of 2004 revealed new species of corals and sponges. Precautionary action to protect this living seafloor habitat is critical to maintain a healthy ocean ecosystem.
GULF OF ALASKA CLOSURE MAP & SEAMOUNT MAP
Don't miss Gulf of Alaska photos, movies, maps and other resources.
