"Recent research has revealed remarkably complex and fragile coral communities inthe deeper waters of the ocean. Deep-sea corals, also known as deep water or cold-water corals, can live for hundreds or thousands of years. Forming thickets or reef-like structures, they provide habitat for rich and diverse fish and thickets or reef-like structures, they provide habitat for rich and diverse fish and in vertebrate communities. Some communities may even be considered as hotspots of biological diversity. These important deep-sea coral and sponge habitats have been discovered on continental margins and slopes, canyons, and seamounts around the world and in many areas in the U.S. exclusive economic zone"--Page [2].

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