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main feature of this deep underwater world is huge soaring mountains
called seamounts, which can sometimes rise more than 1000 metres above
the seafloor. It is estimated that there are tens of thousands of
seamounts across the world's oceans, with more than 30,000 believed to
be in the Pacific Ocean.
However, less than 200 of these seamounts have been scientifically examined and of these studies unknown or endemic (unique to that area) species have been discovered.
Seamounts are home to cold-water coral reefs and forests, sponge beds and hydrothermal vents, as well as the many millions of species dependent on these. One study of a deep-sea community revealed 898 species from more than 100 families in an area about half the size of a tennis court. More than half of these were new to science.
These deep water mountains are the last undiscovered wilderness areas on the planet.
Unfortunately, the commercial fishing industry is aware of the rich pickings that exist in deep waters. The industry has developed its boats and scaled up its trawl gear to enable it to extend its unsustainable fishing practices into previously unexploited deep waters and seamounts using a technique called bottom trawling.
Bottom trawling is considered the most destructive deep sea fishing technique because it wipes out underwater, and mostly unknown, worlds. No one knows how long it will take for these unique worlds to recover, or even if they can.
Not only does bottom trawling wipe out seamount communities, it is incredibly wasteful because it generates large amounts of by-catch or “unwanted” sea life.
However, less than 200 of these seamounts have been scientifically examined and of these studies unknown or endemic (unique to that area) species have been discovered.
Seamounts are home to cold-water coral reefs and forests, sponge beds and hydrothermal vents, as well as the many millions of species dependent on these. One study of a deep-sea community revealed 898 species from more than 100 families in an area about half the size of a tennis court. More than half of these were new to science.
These deep water mountains are the last undiscovered wilderness areas on the planet.
Unfortunately, the commercial fishing industry is aware of the rich pickings that exist in deep waters. The industry has developed its boats and scaled up its trawl gear to enable it to extend its unsustainable fishing practices into previously unexploited deep waters and seamounts using a technique called bottom trawling.
Bottom trawling is considered the most destructive deep sea fishing technique because it wipes out underwater, and mostly unknown, worlds. No one knows how long it will take for these unique worlds to recover, or even if they can.
Not only does bottom trawling wipe out seamount communities, it is incredibly wasteful because it generates large amounts of by-catch or “unwanted” sea life.
