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美國西部海域 禁止底拖網漁業

2006年03月15日
ENS美國,華盛頓,西雅圖報導;江昱均、蘇家億編譯;莫聞審校

底拖網漁業(bottom trawling)是一種對海底傷害極大的破壞性捕撈方式。由於底拖網漁業(bottom trawling)是一種對海底傷害極大的破壞性捕撈方式,美國明令在其西部海域,從加拿大到墨西哥的領海,全面禁止這種捕撈作業。

這項由美國太平洋漁業管理委員會提出的計畫,已在8日由國家海洋暨大氣總署(NOAA)核淮,其適用範圍涵蓋了整個美國西岸,也就是有15萬平方英里的海域被劃為魚類重要棲息地。該計劃保護範圍深達海底3,500公尺,目的是要讓枯竭的魚類資源恢復生機。

底拖網作業是拖著裝有鎖鏈或其他重型漁具的大網,橫掃過海底捕捉底棲魚類,如棲於礁石中的魚類、鱈魚和比目魚。拖網的使用遍及北太平洋區域,目前在阿拉斯加灣中、西部,阿留申群島與白令海仍被准許使用。

NOAA漁業署西北區辦公室主任隆恩(Bob Lohn)表示,「這是我們首次採取大規模行動保護近海棲息地。長久以來,我們期待的不只是健康的海洋,也希望漁場變得更好」。

對於關閉漁場的經濟損失,NOAA表示,該署從過去漁獲資料分析顯示,國庫歲入中來自即將關閉漁場的部分,不到10%,而隨著漁民將他們的工作範圍移到其他開放區域,將可逐漸彌補這個損失。

儘管NOAA漁業署沒有職權能夠約束可能傷害棲息地的非漁業活動,但這個計劃也將一些棲息地列入「特別關注棲息地」加以保護,例如海草棲地和河口區域。

U.S. West Coast Waters Closed to Bottom Trawling
SEATTLE, Washington, March 10, 2006 (ENS)

The destructive fishing practice of bottom trawling has been banned in federal waters off the U.S. west coast from Canada to Mexico.

On Wednesday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration approved a plan developed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council to establish and protect more than 150,000 square miles of marine waters off the West Coast as Essential Fish Habitat. The plan, which covers waters to a depth of 3,500 meters, is aimed at replenishing depleted fish populations.

Bottom trawling is the fishing practice of dragging large nets weighted with chains or other heavy gear across the seafloor to catch groundfish species such as rockfish, cod, and sole. Bottom trawls have been used throughout the North Pacific region, and are still permitted in the central and western Gulf of Alaska, Aleutian Islands and Bering Sea.

"This is the first time we have taken such an extensive approach to protecting offshore habitat," said Bob Lohn, head of NOAA Fisheries Service's Northwest Region in Seattle. "Over the long run, we expect that not only will we have a healthier ocean but that the fishing will get better as well."

NOAA said that its own economic analysis of the closures, based on historic data on landings, shows that less than 10 percent of revenue from commercial fishing comes from areas that will be closed. That loss is expected to be made up as fishermen move their operations to areas that remain open, NOAA said.

Although the NOAA Fisheries Service does not have regulatory authority over non-fishing activities that may damage habitat, the plan includes designating various habitats such as kelp, sea grass and estuaries as "habitat areas of particular concern."