Trawling Marine Life

Figure 1. Bottom Trawling 

Steve Healy. 29 September 2019. https://blogs.ubc.ca/stevehealy/2014/09/29/reefs-of-glass-protecting-british-columbias-prehistoric-glass-sponge-reefs/

            Coral reefs are biologically diverse marine ecosystems of shallow water. Worldwide, bottom trawling is the major cause of coral reef degradation. A large net with weights is used to sink to the ocean floor and is dragged through the water behind one or more boats taking and destroying everything in its path such as targeted fish and bycatch.

            Coral reef fishery management is endorsed to conserve the biodiversity and habitats of the seabed. Approaches used include total and/or limited prohibition of towed bottom fishing gears as well as seasonal and rotational closure techniques. Nevertheless, there is a cost when using closed areas improperly; fishing activities may be relocated into habitats that may be more susceptible to disruption than those presently trawled. Although fishing activities are restricted and confine the degree of impact, the management regimens may force them to reallocate them and be more destructive in the long run. (Kaiser, et al. 2002)

Reference:

Kaiser, Michel J., Collie, Jeremy S., Hall, Stephen J., etc., Modification of marine habitats by trawling activities: prognosis and solutions. Wiley Online Library, 03 Jul 2002. Web. 28 Nov 2014. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1467-2979.2002.00079.x/abstract?deniedAccessCustomisedMessage=&userIsAuthenticated=false