New Protections Finalized for Corals, Sponges, Underwater Canyons off U.S. West Coast
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Monday, November 18, 2019
Research, General Health, White House, Federal Government, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Food, Beverage, Environment, Retail, Science, Maritime, Transport, Health, Public policy, Government, Fishing, Fishing industry, Environmental impact of fishing, Bottom trawling, Marine biology, Trawling, Deep-water coral, Destructive fishing practices
Today, NOAA Fisheries issued final regulations to protect more than 140,000 square miles of seafloor habitat off the U.S. West Coast from destructive bottom trawling.
Key Points:
- Today, NOAA Fisheries issued final regulations to protect more than 140,000 square miles of seafloor habitat off the U.S. West Coast from destructive bottom trawling.
- Once the new regulations take effect on January 1, 2020, 90 percent of the seafloor in U.S. ocean waters off the West Coast will be off limits to bottom trawling.
- View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191118005860/en/
A greenspotted rockfish hides behind yellow gorgonian coral with a cat shark egg case attached. - Credit: Oceana
Bottom trawling is the most damaging fishing method to seafloor habitats off the West Coast.