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A28 SCIENCE
Saturday 24 June 2017

Group votes to protect some Atlantic corals, balk on others

By PATRICK WHITTLE
Associated Press
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) —
A federal panel voted on
Thursday to offer new pro-
tections to some deep-
sea corals in the Atlantic
Ocean but held off on pro-
tecting others so it can get
more information first.
The New England Fishery
Management Council pro-
posals focus on corals in
two key fishing areas — the
Gulf of Maine and south of
Georges Bank off the Mas-
sachusetts coast — and
have been the subject
of debate among envi-
ronmentalists and fishing
groups for months.
“The goal is to protect as
much coral as you can
while minimizing impact
on various industries that
are fishing near the cor-
als,” said John Bullard, a This undated file photo released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows deep-sea spiral coral during a
regional administrator for dive on the New England Seamount chain in the North Atlantic Ocean.
the National Marine Fisher- Associated Press
ies Service and a member
of the fishery council. committee voted to pro- kilometers). The committee curring,” said Nancy Civet- ready face.
The proposals to protect tect two areas in the Gulf decided it needs more up- ta, a spokeswoman for the “We cannot afford any
the corals would need to of Maine that are home to dated fishery data before Cape Cod Commercial more hits to our fisheries,”
be approved by the fed- slow-growing corals. The taking a vote. Fishermen’s Alliance. “If this said Bonnie Brady, execu-
eral Department of Com- protected areas encom- Numerous fishing groups is a step toward that, that is tive director of the Long
merce. pass almost 40 square miles spoke out against protec- really positive.” Island Commercial Fishing
New England’s corals grow (104 square kilometers) and tions that would make it Environmental organiza- Association in Montauk,
in areas such as along un- are called Outer Schoodic more difficult to fish in the tions support an option for New York.q
derwater canyons and Ridge and Mt. Desert Rock. area, where fishermen seek the Georges Bank area
seamounts and provide The areas would still be commercially important that has greater impact on
habitat for marine life in- open to lobster fishing but species including lobster, shallower waters because
cluding sea turtles and fish. not to bottom trawling. whiting, monkfish and squid they believe it would do
President Barack Obama The committee decided to and some haddock and more to protect vulnerable
protected one area last hold off on voting on op- herring. corals that can be harmed
year as the Northeast Can- tions to protect corals in an “They (committee mem- by fishing gear.
yons and Seamounts Ma- area south of Georges Bank bers) were looking to pro- Fishing groups have op-
rine National Monument. that is more than 20,000 tect more corals while hon- posed that option, citing a
On Thursday, a council square miles (51,800 square oring the fishing that is oc- host of regulations they al-