Fishing threat to deep-sea species

Mar 11 2009

Trawlers may be responsible for falling fish populations in deep waters, according to a new study.

A 17-year project in the north east Atlantic found an unexpected decrease in the number of species which live around 3,000 metres below sea level.

Most fishing boats catch down to 1,600 metres but researchers said deep-sea species often lived in these shallower waters as juveniles.