A policy-based framework for the determination of management options to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems under the EU deep-sea access regulations. (5th December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: van Denderen, P Daniël; Holah, Helen; Robson, Laura M; Hiddink, Jan Geert; Menot, Lénaick; Pedreschi, Debbi; Kazanidis, Georgios; Llope, Marcos; Turner, Phillip J; Stirling, David; Murillo, F Javier; Kenny, Andrew; Campbell, Neil; Allcock, A Louise; Braga-Henriques, Andreia; González-Irusta, Jose M; Johnston, Graham; Orejas, Covadonga; Serrano, Alberto; Xavier, Joana R; Hopkins, Peter; Kenchington, Ellen; Nixon, Eugene; Valanko, Sebastian
• Editors: Hoel, Alf Hakon
• Is Part Of: ICES journal of marine science. Volume 79:Number 1(2022)
• Page Start: 34
• Page End: 49
• Publication Date: 2021-12-05
• Subjects: bottom fishing -- ecosystem-based management -- fishing activity -- marine protected area -- protection -- significant adverse impacts -- vessel monitoring systems -- vulnerable marine ecosystem; Ocean -- Periodicals; Fisheries -- Periodicals; Fishes -- Periodicals; Marine biology -- Bibliography -- Periodicals; 551.4605
• DOI: 10.1093/icesjms/fsab237
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1054-3139

Abstract

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 (> 100), made up of many small (∼50 km 2 ) and fewer larger closures (> 1000 km 2 ). 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.