Strandings of NE Atlantic gorgonians. (May 2017)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Strandings of NE Atlantic gorgonians. (May 2017)
- Main Title:
- Strandings of NE Atlantic gorgonians
- Authors:
- Sheehan, E.V.
Rees, A.
Bridger, D.
Williams, T.
Hall-Spencer, J.M. - Abstract:
- Abstract: Northeast coral gardens provide vital breeding and feeding habitats for fishes of conservation and commercial importance. Such habitats are increasingly at risk of destruction as a result of over fishing, ocean warming, acidification and marine litter. A key cause for concern regarding the vulnerability of coral gardens to damage from any source is their slow growth rate, and thereby their ability to recover from damage. Hence protected areas are being put in place, which exclude the use of towed demersal fishing gear. Citizen scientists observed that gorgonian coral (Pink Sea Fans) skeletons were stranding on beaches entangled in marine debris (sea fangles) across southwest England. Further, SCUBA divers reported that gorgonian corals were being caught up and damaged in lost fishing gear and other marine litter. To determine the cause of the damage to coral gardens, sea fangles were collected and analysed. The sea fangles were made up of a diverse range of litter from fishing and domestic sources, however, the majority comprised of fishing gear (P < 0.05). Marine Protected Areas can protect coral gardens from direct fishing pressure, but risks still remain from ghost fishing pressure, demonstrating the need for sources of litter into the environment to be reduced and existing litter removed. The EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) outlines targets for marine litter by 2020. This study highlights the importance of adhering to the MSFD and/or creating moreAbstract: Northeast coral gardens provide vital breeding and feeding habitats for fishes of conservation and commercial importance. Such habitats are increasingly at risk of destruction as a result of over fishing, ocean warming, acidification and marine litter. A key cause for concern regarding the vulnerability of coral gardens to damage from any source is their slow growth rate, and thereby their ability to recover from damage. Hence protected areas are being put in place, which exclude the use of towed demersal fishing gear. Citizen scientists observed that gorgonian coral (Pink Sea Fans) skeletons were stranding on beaches entangled in marine debris (sea fangles) across southwest England. Further, SCUBA divers reported that gorgonian corals were being caught up and damaged in lost fishing gear and other marine litter. To determine the cause of the damage to coral gardens, sea fangles were collected and analysed. The sea fangles were made up of a diverse range of litter from fishing and domestic sources, however, the majority comprised of fishing gear (P < 0.05). Marine Protected Areas can protect coral gardens from direct fishing pressure, but risks still remain from ghost fishing pressure, demonstrating the need for sources of litter into the environment to be reduced and existing litter removed. The EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) outlines targets for marine litter by 2020. This study highlights the importance of adhering to the MSFD and/or creating more ambitious regulation if the UK re-write existing legislation following BREXIT. Highlights: Protected Pink Sea Fans are mass stranding each winter entangled in marine debris. The marine debris comprises mostly fishing gear and some domestic litter. Evidence for ghost fishing causing the stranded "sea fangles" is presented. … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- Biological conservation. Volume 209(2017)
- Journal:
- Biological conservation
- Issue:
- Volume 209(2017)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 209, Issue 2017 (2017)
- Year:
- 2017
- Volume:
- 209
- Issue:
- 2017
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2017-0209-2017-0000
- Page Start:
- 482
- Page End:
- 487
- Publication Date:
- 2017-05
- Subjects:
- Coral -- Reef -- Benthic -- Conservation -- Marine litter -- Ghost fishing
Conservation of natural resources -- Periodicals
Nature conservation -- Periodicals
Ecology -- Periodicals
Environment -- Periodicals
Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals
Electronic journals
333.9516 - Journal URLs:
- http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00063207 ↗
http://www.elsevier.com/journals ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1016/j.biocon.2017.03.020 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 0006-3207
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - 2075.100000
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- 1754.xml