Robert Stone, NMFS

Destructive trawls and dredges used for commercial fishing have destroyed and continue to destroy entire seafloor environments necessary to conserve, protect and restore healthy oceans and healthy fish populations. Oceana is campaigning to protect deep sea corals and sponges and other vulnerable seafloor habitat, and to prevent bottom trawling from expanding into new areas.

Deep Seafloor Ecosystems of New England and the Mid-Atlantic

A wealth of marine life dwells on the seafloor in specific deep water locations offshore from the Northeast United States.

Read the report

Deep Sea Trawl Fisheries of the Southeast US and Gulf of Mexico

Although most bottom trawl and dredge fisheries in the Southeast US and
Gulf of Mexico stay close to shore, three trawl fisheries have developed in
the deep sea in search of rock shrimp, royal red shrimp, and calico scallops.

Read the report

Dive into Ocean Conservation!

Oceana is working hard to make sure fish, coral reefs and turtles don't disappear.  We're protecting the oceans not just for divers, but for everyone.  You can help.  Oceana is an international organization that gets its power from its members, activists and supporters.  Only with these "ground troops," will our fight be won.  Please join us in our efforts for clean oceans we can all enjoy. 

Deep Sea Corals Saved From Destructive Trawling

In a nationwide victory for protecting our oceans, the U.S. Congress has approved legislation calling for research and protection of deep-sea corals in U.S. waters. MORE >>

Courtesy of NOAA

More than 700 threatened sea turtles are caught and injured in scallop dredges every year.

Endangered and threatened sea turtle populations are declining, yet the federal government continues to allow the catch and killing of sea turtles in scallop dredges. MORE>>

Oceana Helps Shift Ocean Management from Fish to Habitat

Oceana is working to protect corals and sponges and other vulnerable deep sea habitat from destructive bottom trawling gear, and to prevent the expansion of bottom trawling into new areas. MORE>>