The U.S. continental shelf’s edge in the Atlantic Ocean contains submerged cliffs and canyons that shelter hundreds of species, including magnificent deep-sea corals. These corals provide habitat for many fish and invertebrates and are among the oldest animals on Earth. Destructive bottom trawling gear could destroy these fragile, slow-growing structures, however. Fisheries managers are considering a historic plan to protect a vast area of ocean floor from destructive bottom fishing in the mid-Atlantic. To fully protect corals this plan must include all of the canyons and deep regions that harbor these ecological treasures.