Effects of Longline Fishing on Seamount Ecosystems
OVERVIEW
Scientists have long presumed that the ocean waters near seamounts, underwater mountains rising from the seafloor, are more productive than surrounding waters due to oceanographic conditions, such as upwellings. Fishermen also hold this belief and are known to target seamounts in search of higher catches of large pelagic species. This project evaluates whether pelagic longline fishing at seamounts results in higher catch levels of target and protected species relative to fishing at non-seamount locations.
Publications and Reports:
Recent Work
