12-28-2005, 10:39 PM
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* December 22, 2005
* R E E F D I S P A T C H
* __________________________
* Can Deep-Water Coral Reefs
* Be Saved
* Before it is Too Late?
*
* -- sign on via --
*[url "http://www.reefguardian.org/"]http://www.reefguardian.org[/url]
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A Periodic Inside Look at a Coral Reef Issue from
Alexander Stone, ReefGuardian International Director
____________________________________________________
Dear Friend of Coral Reefs,
Imagine a coral reef rising over 100 feet off the seafloor... or one eight miles long... or one with corals over 8,000 years old. They all really exist in the deep waters of the high seas.
Now imagine those reefs being smashed to bits by having ten-ton steel plates dragged through them. That is real, too.
That's why I'm writing to ask you to go to the newly updated
ReefGuardian website's Speak Up section([url "http://www.reefguardian.org/"]http://www.reefguardian.org[/url]) and join the many scientists, groups and concerned individuals that are calling for a moratorium on high seas bottom trawling.
Deep Water Coral Reefs Are Magical
----------------------------------
Once thought to inhabit only the warm and shallow waters of tropical and subtropical regions, corals have apparently been thriving in deep, dark and cold waters throughout the world for millions of years. Cold-water corals, which may grow only one inch or even half an inch a year, can be very long-lived: the oldest yet discovered is approximately an incredible 8,000 years old.
The oldest and tallest deep-water coral reef yet observed is 35 meters (122 feet) high. That's as high as the Statue of Liberty from head to heel. And one of the largest reefs of the coral species Lophelia pertusa is more than 13 kilometers (eight miles) long and 400 meters (1,300 feet) wide, with some parts rising more than 100 feet off the seafloor.
Wonders of wonders... all being ground to dust even as we speak by High Seas Bottom Trawlers.
High Seas Bottom Trawling is Destroying Reefs
---------------------------------------------
To capture one or two target commercial fish species, deep-sea bottom trawl fishing vessels operate to depths of 1,500 - 2,000 meters (4,500-6,500 feet), and can fish in deep sea canyons and over rough seafloor.
Dragging huge nets armed with steel plates and heavy rollers across the seabed, high seas bottom trawling vessels plow up and pulverize everything in the path of their ten-ton coral crushing contraptions.
Also, in the process of bringing up the caught fish, thousands of tons of coral are hauled up, along with huge quantities of dead or dying bycatch. In a matter of a few weeks or months, bottom trawl fishing can destroy deep water coral reefs that took many thousands of years to grow.
Unfortunately, deep-sea coral reefs on the high seas have little or no protection from bottom trawl fishing. This is why conservationists and scientists from around the world are calling on the United Nations General Assembly -- the guardian of the high seas -- to declare a moratorium on high seas bottom trawling until the nations of the world can establish strong management measures for deep-sea fisheries and protect biodiversity on the high seas.
And this is why I'm hoping you will add your voice to theirs by signing onto the current Featured Petition on the newly updated ReefGuardian website ([url "http://www.reefguardian.org/"]http://www.reefguardian.org[/url]).
Thanks so much for caring!
Alexander Stone
Director
ReefGuardian International
***************************
[url "http://www.reefguardian.org/"]http://www.reefguardian.org[/url]
***************************
* December 22, 2005
* R E E F D I S P A T C H
* __________________________
* Can Deep-Water Coral Reefs
* Be Saved
* Before it is Too Late?
*
* -- sign on via --
*[url "http://www.reefguardian.org/"]http://www.reefguardian.org[/url]
******************************
A Periodic Inside Look at a Coral Reef Issue from
Alexander Stone, ReefGuardian International Director
____________________________________________________
Dear Friend of Coral Reefs,
Imagine a coral reef rising over 100 feet off the seafloor... or one eight miles long... or one with corals over 8,000 years old. They all really exist in the deep waters of the high seas.
Now imagine those reefs being smashed to bits by having ten-ton steel plates dragged through them. That is real, too.
That's why I'm writing to ask you to go to the newly updated
ReefGuardian website's Speak Up section([url "http://www.reefguardian.org/"]http://www.reefguardian.org[/url]) and join the many scientists, groups and concerned individuals that are calling for a moratorium on high seas bottom trawling.
Deep Water Coral Reefs Are Magical
----------------------------------
Once thought to inhabit only the warm and shallow waters of tropical and subtropical regions, corals have apparently been thriving in deep, dark and cold waters throughout the world for millions of years. Cold-water corals, which may grow only one inch or even half an inch a year, can be very long-lived: the oldest yet discovered is approximately an incredible 8,000 years old.
The oldest and tallest deep-water coral reef yet observed is 35 meters (122 feet) high. That's as high as the Statue of Liberty from head to heel. And one of the largest reefs of the coral species Lophelia pertusa is more than 13 kilometers (eight miles) long and 400 meters (1,300 feet) wide, with some parts rising more than 100 feet off the seafloor.
Wonders of wonders... all being ground to dust even as we speak by High Seas Bottom Trawlers.
High Seas Bottom Trawling is Destroying Reefs
---------------------------------------------
To capture one or two target commercial fish species, deep-sea bottom trawl fishing vessels operate to depths of 1,500 - 2,000 meters (4,500-6,500 feet), and can fish in deep sea canyons and over rough seafloor.
Dragging huge nets armed with steel plates and heavy rollers across the seabed, high seas bottom trawling vessels plow up and pulverize everything in the path of their ten-ton coral crushing contraptions.
Also, in the process of bringing up the caught fish, thousands of tons of coral are hauled up, along with huge quantities of dead or dying bycatch. In a matter of a few weeks or months, bottom trawl fishing can destroy deep water coral reefs that took many thousands of years to grow.
Unfortunately, deep-sea coral reefs on the high seas have little or no protection from bottom trawl fishing. This is why conservationists and scientists from around the world are calling on the United Nations General Assembly -- the guardian of the high seas -- to declare a moratorium on high seas bottom trawling until the nations of the world can establish strong management measures for deep-sea fisheries and protect biodiversity on the high seas.
And this is why I'm hoping you will add your voice to theirs by signing onto the current Featured Petition on the newly updated ReefGuardian website ([url "http://www.reefguardian.org/"]http://www.reefguardian.org[/url]).
Thanks so much for caring!
Alexander Stone
Director
ReefGuardian International
***************************
[url "http://www.reefguardian.org/"]http://www.reefguardian.org[/url]
***************************