In the southeast U.S., deep-sea corals create oases of special habitat along the coast and are extremely vulnerable to certain kinds of fishing such as bottom trawling and dredging.
Both corals and fisheries are managed by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. In 2004, the Council responded to the convincing data provided by scientists and identified areas of coral that would be closed to bottom trawling and any other activity that disturbs the seafloor. The boundaries were updated in spring of 2006 to reflect recent research. However, the Council has yet to formalize these designations and the threat to corals remains.
Learn more about the Corals of the Southeast U.S.