AI Insight
Underwater mountains, called seamounts, are widespread features on the ocean floor, numbering in the tens of thousands globally. While some break the ocean surface as islands like Hawaii, most remain submerged at varying depths. Bottom trawling fishing practices cause significant damage to marine ecosystems on these seamounts.
Why it matters
Seamounts host unique and diverse marine life that is vulnerable to destructive fishing methods. Protection of these underwater ecosystems could preserve biodiversity and allow recovery of damaged marine habitats.
Understand the Science
Tens of thousands of underwater mountains dot the ocean floor around the world. A few break the surface, such as the Hawaiian island chain. The rest are seamounts, peaks and pinnacles rising from the deep seafloor. Some lie just a few meters below the surface, while others rest deeper.
Source: Bottom trawlers do huge damage to life on undersea mountains. Could an end finally be in sight?