Deep-sea Coral Reefs Will Be Protected in the Southeast Atlantic

Regional fishery council slated to safeguard stunning undersea treasure

Posted: 02-Sep-2009; Updated: 14-Sep-2009

Dr. Rader's creature of the deep

Our chief oceans scientist has a species of crustacea named after him — a sort of underwater rolley-polley. Found in the Pamlico Canyon off Cape Lookout, NC, the deep-water Paramunna rader lives at depths of 9,000 feet.

Twenty years ago, scientists had only an inkling of what lay off the Southeast Atlantic coast of the United States: a vast stretch of ancient deep-sea coral reefs. This deepwater wilderness lies 1,000 feet or more below the ocean’s surface and has pinnacles and mounds up to 500 feet tall.

Thanks to the decade-long efforts of EDF chief oceans scientist Doug Rader, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is poised to protect these fragile and long-lived coral reefs. This vast expanse of deepwater corals — covering 25,000 square miles along the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida — is among the world's largest.

A diverse undersea world only now being explored

These reefs are home to an amazing array of new species, some that may prove to be of economic value or hold keys to new drugs. Here forests of snow-white Lophelia pertusa dot seamounts and drape steep canyons. Strange sea critters — starfish, worms, anemones, crabs, sponges, sea spiders — hover about or cling to branches. Rocky crags and deep escarpments provide haven for hundreds of fish species.

"This area is a spectacular new world, complete with bizarre animals and dark, unexplored canyons," said Rader. "Every time scientists visit the reefs they find new species and see places no human has ever seen before."

The first reports of deep sea corals off the Southeast coast occurred more than a century ago, but the huge scale, beauty and diversity were discovered only in recent years. "Amazingly there was little interest in the corals until about 10 years ago," says Dr. Steve Ross, a marine ecologist at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington who has lead nearly a dozen expeditions beginning in 2000. "When we took our first dives, we saw thriving, diverse animal communities and realized this was not just an anomaly," he explains. "Most of the animals we've seen have never been filmed or photographed before."

Working with fishermen and scientists to safeguard the reefs

Since 1998, Rader has worked with the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, marine scientists and fishermen to protect the ancient and fragile reefs against both fishing and non-fishing threats. In particular, EDF negotiated "allowable gear zones," where traditional fisheries for deepwater animals (golden crab and royal red shrimp) would be allowed, away from vulnerable tall pinnacles.

A first for fishery councils in the United States, the plan strikes a novel and unique balance between achieving protection of critical habitat, while allowing fishermen to continue to have access to traditional fishing grounds with gears that do minimal damage.

"Sometimes saving things that most people can't see takes a long time, but they are worth fighting for," said Rader.