WASHINGTON DC (23 Mar 2002) -- Sea floor habitats over wide areas of the U.S. continental shelf are being ravaged by bottom trawling, according to a report just released by the prestigious National Academy of Sciences (NAS). The panel responsible for the report recommends that the government close some areas to all trawlers, and limit trawler access to other regions. The report, titled "Effects of Bottom Trawling and Dredging on Seafloor Habitats," finds that bottom trawling - a commercial fishing method that scoops up fish by dragging heavy nets across the sea floor - is killing vast numbers of marine animals and is destroying habitats where juvenile fishes hide from their predators. The report suggests that this destructive fishing technique may alter marine ecosystems enough to offer at least a partial explanation for the declines in fish populations seen in recent years. The study leading to the report was conducted at the request of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). NAS experts reviewed the environmental effects of trawling and dredging upon what is known (under the1996 Sustainable Fisheries Act) as "essential fish habitat". Regional fisheries councils responsible for managing most marine fisheries in U.S. waters are required to identify and protect essential fish habitat for each managed fish stock. Although the NAS found that almost all of the councils have thus far failed to meet this mandate, the report states that "the lack of area-specific studies on the effect of trawling and dredging gear is insufficient justification to postpone management of fishing effects on seafloor habitat." The report recommends complete closure of some areas to all trawlers, and limited trawler access to other regions because the researchers concluded that some habitats, including corals, sponges and seagrass beds, are disturbed by even low levels of fishing. "This report clearly shows that the councils' usual excuse, there has not been a specific study in their area, doesn't hold water," said Lee Crockett, executive director of the Marine Fish Conservation Network, a national coalition of more than 140 environmental organizations, fishing associations and marine science groups dedicated to promoting the long term sustainability of marine fishing. | | "It is again up to Congress to send a clear message that management plans must protect habitat from damaging fishing practice and they must do it now," Crockett added. Today, Representative Joel Hefley, a Colorado Republican, announced that he plans to introduce the Ocean Habitat Protection Act, which would bar the most harmful trawling gear from the most fragile seafloor habitats, including coral and rocky reefs and undersea boulder fields. The NAS report identifies these as the seafloor types where trawling has the highest impact. "As an avid fisherman, I have strong concerns about the future of fishing and the devastating effects of mobile fishing gear," said Hefley. "The ocean environment is a diverse and beautiful home to coral beds, sea grasses and fish species that are needlessly being destroyed by large roller and rockhopper gear. Under the Ocean Habitat Protection Act, the size of ground gear used on bottom trawls will be limited, reducing the impact of trawling on seafloor habitat." The bill also provides funding for cooperative research with fishermen and scientists for the development of less damaging fishing gear and incentives for fishermen to convert to such gear types. However, even with better fishing gear, the NAS report says that some areas will need to be closed to fishing. "Closed areas are necessary to protect a range of vulnerable, representative habitats," the researchers wrote. "Closures are particularly useful for protecting biogenic habitats (e.g., corals, bryozoans, hydroids, sponges, seagrass beds) that are disturbed by even low levels of fishing effort." © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORKSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum |
