Some fisherman say no, Scientists differ, some propose sanctuaries.
The net will become obsolete, with the government soon requiring 3-inch mesh nets to allow smaller fish to slip through. Photo by Steve Heaslip. At the murky bottom of the ocean, far from human view, a forest of sponges, boulders, worms, hydroids, young fish, crabs and shrimp are at the center of a lively debate that pits scientists and fishermen against each other. Scientists and fishermen disagree about whether these changes are harmful to the ecology of the ocean or the viability of valuable fish stocks. They also disagree about whether scientific research on bottom fishing should prompt policy changes.