Artisanal fishing impact on deep coralligenous animal forests: a Mediterranean case study of marine vulnerability
Enrichetti, F.; Bava, S.; Bavestrello, G.; Betti, F.; Lanteri, L.; Bo, M. (2019). Artisanal fishing impact on deep coralligenous animal forests: a Mediterranean case study of marine vulnerability. Ocean Coast. Manag. 177: 112-126. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2019.04.021
In: Ocean & Coastal Management. Elsevier Science: Barking. ISSN 0964-5691; e-ISSN 1873-524X, more
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| Author keywords |
VMEs; Animal forest; ROV-Imaging; Trammel net discard; Fishing impact |
| Authors | | Top | Dataset |
- Enrichetti, F.
- Bava, S.
- Bavestrello, G.
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- Betti, F.
- Lanteri, L.
- Bo, M.
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| Abstract |
Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs) are characterized by prominent biological features susceptible to anthropogenic disturbances. Following international guidelines, the identification and protection of VMEs require a detailed documentation regarding both the community structure and the fishing footprint in the area. This combined information is lacking for the majority of the Mediterranean mesophotic rocky reefs that, similarly to deep-seabottoms, are known to host valuable animal forests.A deep coralligenous site exploited by artisanal fishermen in the NW Mediterranean Sea is here used as a model to assess the vulnerability of animal forests at mesophotic depths and evaluate the sustainability of artisanal fishing practices, particularly lobster trammel net. The Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) footage is used to document the biodiversity and health status of the megabenthic communities, while discard data are employed to quantify the entanglement risk, discard rates of fragile species and threats to sea floor integrity.A multidisciplinary approach is proposed for the assessment of the vulnerability criteria of an EU Special Area of Conservation, leading to specific management measures, including the delineation of fishing restrictions. |
| Dataset |
- CorMedNet- Distribution and demographic data of habitat-forming invertebrate species from Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages between 1882 and 2019., more
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