As I understand the explanation for the rule making the assumptions are that seagrasses are important fish breeding habitat, and were regulated from take in order to protect them as habitat. Even though there is no take from seagrass beds they can be damaged by sand harvesting, anchoring, mooring, dropping traps, and other activities that result in physical damage to the seabed where they are found. If they are important enough to be protected from harvest because of their habitat value they should also be important enough to protect from physical damage.
Comment from Avram Primack
This is comment on Proposed Rule
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic: Amendment to the Corals and Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates Fishery Management Plan of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
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Related Comments
Public Submission Posted: 03/04/2013 ID: NOAA-NMFS-2013-0021-0003
Apr 26,2013 11:59 PM ET