WHY MUST WE ACT NOW?

Decisions are being made in the Pacific today that will determine the fate of corals, sponges, and other living seafloor habitat. It is critical to take action immediately. Every day, bottom trawling destroys irreplaceable portions of the underwater environment. The more we discover about deep sea corals and sponges, the better we understand that these ancient slow growing animals are extremely sensitive to disturbance. The damage caused by destructive bottom gear today may not mend in our lifetime, if ever. Furthermore, we are just beginning to understand that the decimation of corals and sponges has a ripple effect. When they disappear, so do many of the fish and other animals dependent upon them for food, shelter, and protection.

The threat from bottom trawling is increasing. As technology improves, bottom trawlers are moving farther offshore with new and improved gear that is more destructive than ever. Modern trawl doors, which keep the heavy nets on the seafloor, can weigh up to 5 tons. These and other innovations allow bottom trawlers to work in areas that they previously would have avoided due to gear loss and destruction. Now the loss and destruction is of crucial and essential habitat instead of fishing gear.

Lingcod associated with hydrocorals. Victoria O'Connell (ADF&G).

The importance of deep sea corals and sponges and the threats posed by bottom trawling are already internationally recognized. In response to scientific estimates that between a third and half of Lophelia reefs had been damaged or destroyed by trawling in their waters, the Norwegian government placed a ban on trawling in a 350 square mile area of coral reef habitat. Australia has also acted to protect deep sea corals, designating its first deep sea marine reserve, the Tasmanian Seamounts Marine Reserve, spreading over 140 square miles to protect 20% of the 70 known submerged seamounts off the Australian continental margin. The UK and Irish governments are currently considering measures to protect corals in their waters. Canada recently established a coral conservation area to protect deep sea corals in the Atlantic.

Mushroom Coral. Monterey Bay Aquarium.

In the United States, the Magnuson-Stevens Act sets the parameters for fisheries management. This Act established eight regional fishery councils that provide policy recommendations to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to determine the most responsible way to manage the public's ocean fisheries. NMFS is required by law to develop Fisheries Management Plans for each region that include minimizing the impacts of fisheries on Essential Fish Habitat which includes corals and sponges. In 2000, Oceana argued in court that NMFS wasn't doing its job, and won. As a result, NMFS is now required to conduct an open public process to develop Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) that analyze different ways to protect Essential Fish Habitat.

The government is required to solicit public input and respond to public comments on all components of these regional EISs. This provides the platform for public involvement and advocacy efforts to protect Essential Fish Habitat like corals and sponges from destructive fishing. Oceana is developing strong conservation alternatives for the government to analyze in their Environmental Impact Statements. Click here to see the Oceana Approach.

Every fish, coral, sea mammal, and turtle in the ocean is a public resource. Your voice counts in determining the fate of our oceans. Please help turn the tide on the devastation wreaked by bottom trawling. Take immediate action by sending a public comment to NMFS today. Additionally, you can call or write your members of Congress and let them know you support protection of coral and sponge habitat. Write a letter to the editor. Inform friends and family and send them to this website, www.SaveCorals.com. Write, fax, or email NMFS and your local fishery management council to let them know that the devastation from bottom trawling is simply unacceptable for maintaining sustainable fisheries. Become a member of Oceana and receive updates on timely local, regional, and national action to be part of the solution to end this destruction of our resource. SaveCorals.com will provide ongoing opportunities for timely public comments to appropriate decision makers.