NOAA Establishes Eight Marine Protected Areas to Provide Safe Havens for
Deep-Water Fish

January 13, 2009

NOAA has established eight separate marine protected areas encompassing a
total of 529 square nautical miles in south Atlantic federal waters to
shield deep-water fish species and their habitats from fishing.

Map of South Atlantic Deepwater Marine Protected Areas.
High <http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/images/mps_map.jpg>
resolution (Credit: NOAA)

All fishing for snappers, groupers, tilefishes, grunts, porgies, and sea
basses is prohibited throughout the protected areas, which are located off
the coast from North Carolina south to Florida.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council proposed the action to NOAA's
<http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/>  Fisheries Service as part of a larger
management plan to protect these South Atlantic fish populations.

"I applaud the hard work of the council and the strong spirit of cooperative
conservation among commercial and recreational fisherman to take decisive
action to conserve habitat in order to sustain healthy fisheries for
generations to come," said James L. Connaughton, chairman of the White House
Council on Environmental Quality.

"Marine protected areas are designed to provide long-term protection for our
nation's natural resources," said Jim Balsiger, acting NOAA assistant
administrator for NOAA's Fisheries Service. "These areas of the South
Atlantic were chosen because they feature known spawning grounds and nursery
habitats for deep-water fish - especially for snappers and groupers."

The marine protected areas are critical to the survival of over 70 species
of deep-water fish susceptible to fishing pressure. These fish are not good
candidates for catch-and-release fishing because they suffer trauma when
captured and reeled up from great depths.

In addition, some species, such as snowy grouper, can live longer than 50
years and are the most productive spawners. It is important to protect the
larger fish so they can spawn to their maximum potential, and equally
important to protect the younger fish so they reach maturity.

The new protected areas range in size from 21 to 150 square nautical miles.
There is one area off North Carolina, three off South Carolina, one off
Georgia, and three protected areas off Florida.

Commercial shark bottom longline gear is also prohibited in these areas
because the deep-water fish species are likely to be caught incidentally
with this gear. All other types of legal fishing, such as trolling for tunas
and marlins, are allowed because those gear types are not likely to
incidentally catch the species warranting protection.