WASHINGTON, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Leading marine scientists from around the world are recommending an end to most commercial fishing in the deep sea, a U.S. marine conservation group says.

Arguing that deep-sea fisheries are unsustainable, they are recommending limiting fishing to more productive waters closer to consumers, a release from the Marine Conservation Biology Institute reported Wednesday.


"The deep sea is the world's worst place to catch fish," marine ecologist Elliott Norse, the study's lead author, said.

"Deep-sea fishes are especially vulnerable because they can't repopulate quickly after being overfished."

While deep sea operations account for less than 1 percent of the world's seafood, fishing there -- especially bottom trawling -- causes profound, lasting damage to fishes and life on the seafloor, the experts say.

"Instead of overfishing the Earth's biggest but most vulnerable ecosystem, nations should recover fish populations and fish in more productive coastal waters," Norse said, urging the rebuilding of fish populations in waters closer to ports and markets, places he said are far more conducive to sustainable fisheries.

"Deep-sea fishes are in deep trouble almost everywhere we look. Governments shouldn't be wasting taxpayers' money by keeping unsustainable fisheries afloat."