Write Fisheries Minister Gail Shea and urge her to set up a network of marine protected areas – starting with interim protection for 12 coral and sponge hot spots.
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| The Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA) contains nine of the 12 coral and sponge hot spots that should be off limits to bottom trawling. While four trawl closures have been implemented in B.C.’s globally unique Hexactinellid sponge reefs, they do not take into consideration our equally important coral forests. |
In a 2005 study, Living Oceans identified 12 interim protection areas for coral and sponge hot spots on B.C.’s coast. It is four years since we requested that DFO enact these closures and nothing has happened.
These underwater forests of the deep contribute to healthy oceans and fish stocks by providing food, shelter from predators, nurseries, and spawning areas for numerous species of groundfish like rockfish and invertebrates such as crab.
By far the greatest threat to deep sea habitat in B.C. is a destructive fishing method known as bottom trawling. Trawlers drag weighted nets along the seabed, scraping it bare as they scoop up everything in their path. Any unintentionally caught species of corals, sponges or fish brought to the surface are called “bycatch” and are thrown overboard, dead or dying.
Although four trawl closures have been implemented in B.C.’s globally unique Hexactinellid sponge reefs, these closures have proven to be too small and do not take into consideration our equally important coral forests. Protecting these 12 coral and sponge areas from bottom trawling would reduce the bycatch of identified corals and sponges by over 90 percent.
YOUR MESSAGE
The Honourable Gail Shea,
Minister Fisheries and Oceans Canada
200 Kent St.
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0E6
Dear Minister Shea:
I am writing to urge you to immediately enact bottom trawl closures in 12 coral and sponge hot spots on our Pacific Coast as identified in a 2005 scientific study written by Living Oceans Society. In addition, all of B.C.’s coastal waters that are not currently trawled must be closed to bottom trawling until research is conducted to determine their importance as habitat to the thousands of species living there.
Although four trawl closures have been implemented in B.C.’s globally unique Hexactinellid sponge reefs, they do not take into consideration our equally important coral forests. Protecting these 12 areas from bottom trawling would reduce the bycatch of identified corals and sponges by over 90 percent.
Nine of the 12 coral and sponge hot spots lie within the boundaries of the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA). Your government has committed to establishing a marine planning process in PNCIMA. Interim protection for these 12 critical habitat areas under the Fisheries Act is a logical first step on the path to fulfill that commitment. Interim protection of these areas will also help Canada meet its international commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity to establish a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) on the Pacific coast by 2012.
Sincerely,
