Publication Date:
2021-11-26
Description:
The UK seamounts, Rosemary Bank, George Bligh, Anton Dohrn and Hebrides Terrace, were investigated in this study, analysing VMS data, surveillance data and landings into UK ports between 2003 and 2005 to assess the fishery on these fishing grounds. Results of VMS data compared with reports from patrol vessels and aircraft surveys revealed that monitoring and surveillance is fragmentary for the UK seamounts. Of the four, Rosemary Bank was the seamount with the highest fishing intensity, fishing effort and highest demersal landings in the study period. Demersal landings from all seamounts showed for the study period the same development as in whole ICES subarea VI, a general downward trend in landings of deep-water species. In comparison to fishery in the North Sea and Baltic Sea, Rosemary Bank was assessed to be not intensively fished. But because deep-water species differ in their life history traits from shallow-water species a comparison in fishing intensity should be accomplished with other seamounts or deep-sea areas. Only one pelagic species, blue whiting, was landed from all seamounts with highest quantities from Hebrides Terrace, demersal fishery played a minor role at this seamount. Fishing effort was low at this seamount, but considering the seamount area, Hebrides Terrace had the second highest fishing intensity. For the study period no significant seasonality in fishery was apparent at all seamounts but to indicate seasonality, a longer time period should be taken into account. However, Rosemary Bank was the only seamount being fished throughout the whole year. Fishery was mainly conducted down to 1000 m and declining beyond this depth. Individual findings of cold-water corals on the seamounts indicate a susceptible environment and as mainly demersal species were fished at these seamounts the employed gear is believed to have impacts on the benthos. To what extent the cold-water corals are distributed at the seamounts and how they have been affected by demersal fisheries requires further studies.
Type:
Thesis
,
NonPeerReviewed
Format:
text
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