New England's Protected Waters are Threatened

Thousands of square miles of protected waters could see the return of damaging, large-scale fishing, putting the recovery of cod and other struggling marine life in peril.

When fish populations crashed in the 1990s, these closed areas were created to protect juvenile fish, spawning areas, and seafloor habitat. Other species benefit too, including the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale and harbor porpoises.

Now fishery managers want to open more than half of these sheltered zones—a combined area the size of Connecticut—to appease commercial fishing interests. A rash decision to remove protections could undo decades of recovery with no long-term economic benefit for our coastal communities.

More than 70,000 people sent comments to NOAA opposing this proposal. The following groups also sent letters warning NOAA of potential harm to marine ecosystems and wildlife:

- More than 100 prominent scientists warned that "the habitat of these areas for managed species will be degraded rapidly ... and what progress has been made in New England will be set back." 

- Charter boat captains, nature tour operators, conservationists and community leaders—some 130 representatives of state and local governments, small businesses and conservation groups—urged NOAA to reject the proposal. 

- Organizations working to protect endangered whales told NOAA that the proposal increases the risk of entanglements with fishing gear, a serious threat to whales.