Background

For our DEEP project, we will be reaserching the affects that commercial fishing nets have on coral reefs. With over twenty five percent of marine life calling coral reefs home, when these precious structures are destroyed, so are the homes of the animals that live there.  When the fishing nets are trolling on the bottom of the ocean, they often snag  on pieces of coral.  Due to the fact that the coral isnt very strong it just breaks, and no one ever notices. This cycle destroys coral, and makes it harder for marine life to find a home. This also destroys the food supply and hunting grounds for larger fish,  as well as sharks. Coral also takes quite a long time to grow with larger reefs only growing at an average rate of two centimeters per year. When this coral is destroyed in a matter of seconds, it greatly affects the entire ecosystem that largely relies on these plants for all the keys to life.