"Maybe at the end of the day we can work together and maybe some of these marine protected areas can be helpful in rebuilding stocks, like groundfish." The federal government protected the corals using the federal Fisheries Act rather than a marine protected area (MPA) designation under the Oceans Act which offers more sweeping protections. "[The Fisheries Act] was the best tool for the job." "The problem with the Fisheries Act closures is they are not as permanent and as long term as an MPA," she said. The federal government has used the Fisheries Act for conservation protection at several other locations offshore Nova Scotia.

Source: CBC News September 26, 2016 20:37 UTC