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Yep... Strip mining is way too harsh... Draggers work established fishing grounds, they just don't go anywhere they please. Unknown grounds = hangups, which can result in loss of expensive gear and at worst a vessel capsizing. Most of these grounds have been fished heavily for over fifty years- not like they're doing additional damage (although one can argue that the damage was reprehensible in the first place).
And some studies have shown that fish activity is increased in areas that are dragged... much akin to rototilling a field to seed, the actions of the trawlers stir up benthic invertebrates, and many fish move into the area to feed.
I'm not saying it's zero-impact: Far from it, that's for sure. But it's far from the 'strip mining' and 'destroying coral reefs' that Kurlansky and much of the media would have you believe.
But like MM said, these are pelagic trawlers, so it's apples to oranges... On NORPEL, sad to see the loss of so many jobs to hard working people, but glad to see the baitfish get a break.
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