The Deep Sea Moorings Fishbite Problem

Evidence gathered to date clearly shows that moorings set far away from continental shores are subjected to severe fishbites. These bites occur from the surface to depths well within the bathypelagic zone, 1000 meters or more. The dimension of the fishbite problem is first reviewed. A data base which spans over twenty years and encompasses hundreds of moorings deployed world wide is used to delineate the space and time dependence of fishhbite attacks. This information is important when evaluating risks. Who are the culprits and why they do it is reviewed next. This knowledge is important when devising preventative methods. Granted that fishbite damage is a real possibility, how does one distinguish it from other plausible causes of rope failure? Observations, laboratory procedures, and rationales used to answer this question with a fair degree of assurance are described next. Finally the paper reviews the preventive and the curative methods which hopefully can protect mooring lines from the mechanical damage inflicted by fish teeth.