In:
ICES Journal of Marine Science, Oxford University Press (OUP), Vol. 79, No. 1 ( 2022-01-20), p. 34-49
Abstract:
Vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) are particularly susceptible to bottom-fishing activity as they are easily disturbed and slow to recover. A data-driven approach was developed to provide management options for the protection of VMEs under the European Union “deep-sea access regulations.” A total of two options within two scenarios were developed. The first scenario defined VME closure areas without consideration of fishing activity. Option 1 proposed closures for the protection of VME habitats and likely habitat, while Option 2 also included areas where four types of VME geophysical elements were present. The second scenario additionally considered fishing. This scenario used VME biomass—fishing intensity relationships to identify a threshold where effort of mobile bottom-contact gears was low and unlikely to have caused significant adverse impacts. Achieving a high level of VME protection requires the creation of many closures ( & gt; 100), made up of many small (∼50 km2) and fewer larger closures ( & gt; 1000 km2). The greatest protection of VMEs will affect approximately 9% of the mobile fleet fishing effort, while closure scenarios that avoid highly fished areas reduce this to around 4–6%. The framework allows managers to choose the level of risk-aversion they wish to apply in protecting VMEs by comparing alternative strategies.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1054-3139
,
1095-9289
DOI:
10.1093/icesjms/fsab237
Language:
English
Publisher:
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Publication Date:
2022
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2463178-4
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1468003-8
detail.hit.zdb_id:
29056-7
SSG:
12
SSG:
21,3
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