Emptying the oceans — trawling leading to deep ocean deserts

Credit: Gewin 2004

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/science-sushi/2014/05/30/emptying-ocean-trawling-leading-deep-ocean-deserts/#.U4mCF9B_W2d / research trawl trawler trawling allowed high seas bottom trawling dredges up twice the area of the United States every year terms unregulated study published Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences mounting evidence protein laying waste planet permanent lasting changes in the sea floor prevent recovery method of fishing boats nets drag nets through the water along the sea floor catching catch sustainability high-efficiency fishing method abundance small fish boats designed drag larger and larger nets deeper and deeper engineering prowess empty our oceans devastation of trawling United Kingdom UK unrestricted freedom of fishing high seas world world’s oceans ban bottom trawling modern technology bottom trawlers drag nets corals top predators surface habitats living sea floor corals sponges other marine life net’s massive weight dragged surface dying or dead deep gouges seabed rubble deep sea organisms slower growing scars on the sea floor seafloor greed /