NOVA SCOTIA, Canada (5 Nov 2003) -- Scientists probing deep waters off Nova Scotia have found a one-kilometre stretch of rare 1,000-year-old coral that could provide important insights into the Canadian marine environment. A team of researchers found the lengthy stretch of lophelia pertusa, or spider hazard coral, at the mouth of the Laurentian Channel in late September, making it the only deepwater coral reef of its kind in Canada. "We were fascinated and we had a hard time writing down observations and punching the right keys - we were just stuck in front of the monitors gasping," Pal Mortensen, a marine biologist with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, said Monday after presenting his findings to colleagues. "We feared it was all gone now so it was a very, very impressive thing to find this population." The science team returned to an area called the Stone Fence, a rocky outcrop about 400 metres under the ocean surface and east of Sable Island, after discovering a 20-centimetre piece of lophelia last year. Mortensen said they knew the coral builds reefs, but they had no idea they would find one in the heavily fished area off Nova Scotia. The coral, a creamy white, finger-like protrusion with tentacles, can construct reefs up to 35 metres tall and 500 metres long. In some parts of the world, scientists have found continuous reefs up to 15 kilometres in length and 9,000 years old. Nova Scotia has about 25 species of deepwater coral off its shores, but none build reefs like those found in southern climates. Researchers have found strains of lophelia in waters off Norway, Scotland and other parts of Europe, but have never spotted a live piece in Canada. But the population is in danger of dying off as it gets shorn from the ocean's bottom by fishing trawlers that in an instant can pulverize species that only grow 1.5 millimetres a year. About 90 per cent of the 500-metre-wide reef Mortensen found was dead, with much of it surrounded by shattered coral rubble and mounds of brown lophelia. It's suspected that a lot of the damage was done about 30 years ago when dozens of factory freezer trawlers swept through the area, though Mortensen found signs of recent fishing. | | Lophelia pertusa "There has been a tremendous impact from bottom trawling," said Mortensen, who is returning to his home in Norway after studying coral populations in the province. "By taking care of these habitats, we also take care of a lot of other species." About 1,000 marine species have been found in lophelia, supporting the claim by environmentalists and fishermen that it's an important habitat for fish and organisms that thrive on the bright white growths. Scientists are keen to protect it because it could provide crucial information on ocean temperatures and how climate change is affecting the growth and evolution of the species. Mortensen is awaiting data that will narrow the age of the lophelia and give insight into the deepwater environment. Officials with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and other organizations are developing a strategy to preserve the area, but Faith Scattolon said any conservation effort by fishermen would likely be voluntary. "Really, to make these conservation measures work, we need the buy-in of the people involved," said Scattolon, regional director of the oceans and environment branch for the department. Brian Giroux, head of the Scotia-Fundy Mobile Gear Fishermen's Association, said the move won't work and urged officials to impose a mandatory closure of the sensitive area. "The biggest problem with the voluntary compliance is getting everybody to understand it," he said. "It's a better idea to put a buffer zone around it and just close the darn thing." Fishermen first indicated the coral might be growing near Sable Island and in the Sable Gully when they began pulling up pieces in their nets. SOURCE - CTV |
