The two organizations urged governments, international agencies and private organizations to review existing legal agreements and identify areas needing special care. Deep sea corals in the Atlantic are being damaged by fishing trawlers which drag heavy chains over the reefs, WWF said. Deep water fish are particularly vulnerable to overfishing because they tend to have a longer lifespan and a later age of maturity than coastal species, the report said. Whales, dolphins and porpoises face danger from being caught in fishing nets. Commercial whaling has already led to the extinction of the North Atlantic whale and seriously reduced the numbers of others.
Large whales are also vulnerable to collisions with ships.
The vents also are valued for their metallic crusts, which are often rich in gold. Deep-sea dumping of excess carbon dioxide, in frozen or liquid form, also threatens to damage the natural balance of the seas.