Evaluation of benthic assemblage structure in the NAFO regulatory area with regard to the protection of VME
Evaluation of benthic assemblage structure in the NAFO regulatory area with regard to the protection of VME
This article presents the results from the analysis of data acquired during the NEREIDA survey programme (2009-2010) around the Flemish Cap and the tail of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland (NAFO Regulatory Area). Biological samples were collected using a mega boxcore, and were processed for the extraction and identification of benthic macrofauna. A suite of physical samples and environmental measurements was also collected for evaluation. Analyses revealed the presence of benthic assemblages that were indicative of vulnerable marine ecosystems (VME). VME indicative assemblages were present mostly outside of the fishing footprint. A simple habitat suitability model identified areas that are likely to accommodate VME indicative assemblages. Areas with the greatest potential to accommodate VME assemblages closely correspond with areas already managed for the protection of VME, where bottom-contact fishing practices are currently excluded. Such results support the notion that existing bottom-fishery exclusion zones should continue to be enforced for the long-term protection of VME.
Fishing disturbance, Macrofauna, Vulnerable marine ecosystems
405-419
Froján, Christopher Barrio
4935e7ee-ac0f-41bd-b00b-2c5806561d74
Downie, Anna Leena
3532883a-42a2-4ae0-9fb4-d7ca80e94a7d
Cuadrado, Mar Sacau
30c46527-7234-435d-9515-d6c25319045f
Kenchington, Ellen
f6dfc7c2-b8d1-42eb-9478-5dfa11340570
Kenny, Andrew
ca578559-e62d-449d-9f95-e819d4404166
1 January 2016
Froján, Christopher Barrio
4935e7ee-ac0f-41bd-b00b-2c5806561d74
Downie, Anna Leena
3532883a-42a2-4ae0-9fb4-d7ca80e94a7d
Cuadrado, Mar Sacau
30c46527-7234-435d-9515-d6c25319045f
Kenchington, Ellen
f6dfc7c2-b8d1-42eb-9478-5dfa11340570
Kenny, Andrew
ca578559-e62d-449d-9f95-e819d4404166
Froján, Christopher Barrio, Downie, Anna Leena, Cuadrado, Mar Sacau, Kenchington, Ellen and Kenny, Andrew
(2016)
Evaluation of benthic assemblage structure in the NAFO regulatory area with regard to the protection of VME.
ICES Journal of Marine Science, 73 (2), .
(doi:10.1093/icesjms/fsv186).
Abstract
This article presents the results from the analysis of data acquired during the NEREIDA survey programme (2009-2010) around the Flemish Cap and the tail of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland (NAFO Regulatory Area). Biological samples were collected using a mega boxcore, and were processed for the extraction and identification of benthic macrofauna. A suite of physical samples and environmental measurements was also collected for evaluation. Analyses revealed the presence of benthic assemblages that were indicative of vulnerable marine ecosystems (VME). VME indicative assemblages were present mostly outside of the fishing footprint. A simple habitat suitability model identified areas that are likely to accommodate VME indicative assemblages. Areas with the greatest potential to accommodate VME assemblages closely correspond with areas already managed for the protection of VME, where bottom-contact fishing practices are currently excluded. Such results support the notion that existing bottom-fishery exclusion zones should continue to be enforced for the long-term protection of VME.
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Accepted/In Press date: 24 September 2015
Published date: 1 January 2016
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
This research was undertaken as an extension to the original NEREIDA project, and has been funded under the European Commission contract number SI2.663212. The authors are grateful to colleagues at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography (Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada) and the Instituto Español de Oceanografía (Centro Oceanograífico de Vigo, Spain) for all their efforts to get the samples shipped safely and quickly to the UK. The thankless work of sample sorting and identification performed by staff at IECS (University of Hull) is also gratefully acknowledge. Crown copyright 2015.
Keywords:
Fishing disturbance, Macrofauna, Vulnerable marine ecosystems
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 479895
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/479895
ISSN: 1054-3139
PURE UUID: 7b466468-e0b9-47dc-8ecd-4eb5d2843a2e
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Date deposited: 28 Jul 2023 16:43
Last modified: 18 Mar 2024 04:11
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Contributors
Author:
Christopher Barrio Froján
Author:
Anna Leena Downie
Author:
Mar Sacau Cuadrado
Author:
Ellen Kenchington
Author:
Andrew Kenny
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