Relating benthic sensitivity and status to spatial distribution and intensity of trawling in the Eastern Mediterranean
The ecosystem approach to fisheries management needs information of not just where bottom trawlers operate but also on their impact on the seabed, which is also highly relevant to the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) Descriptor D6, seafloor integrity. In this study, we assess the benthi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Ecological Indicators |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X23004284 |
| _version_ | 1797837813739159552 |
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| author | Christopher J. Smith Nadia K. Papadopoulou Irida Maina Stefanos Kavadas P. Daniel van Denderen Nikolaos Katsiaras Sofia Reizopoulou Ioannis Karakassis Anastasios Tselepides Irini Tsikopoulou |
| author_facet | Christopher J. Smith Nadia K. Papadopoulou Irida Maina Stefanos Kavadas P. Daniel van Denderen Nikolaos Katsiaras Sofia Reizopoulou Ioannis Karakassis Anastasios Tselepides Irini Tsikopoulou |
| author_sort | Christopher J. Smith |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The ecosystem approach to fisheries management needs information of not just where bottom trawlers operate but also on their impact on the seabed, which is also highly relevant to the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) Descriptor D6, seafloor integrity. In this study, we assess the benthic impact of bottom trawling in the Eastern Mediterranean in areas primarily fished by the Greek fleet. Seabed habitat sensitivity was modelled using macrofaunal longevity and biomass relationship based on data from more than 800 locations, representing 9 MSFD benthic habitats, and benthic status was assessed using the relative benthic status indicator. The pressure of seabed trawling was higher in circalittoral mud and circalittoral sand habitats showing a heterogeneous distribution pattern with intensive trawling in localized areas mainly coastal. Benthic status was high for all habitats reflecting the low trawling intensity and impact in most of the study area compared to other regions of Mediterranean or European waters. The results constitute the benchmark for benthic status in relation to trawling intensity in Eastern Mediterranean allowing to identify regions that are most at risk, and to prioritize management actions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T15:30:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fe0c993d1cb9473595412dd80c2f6711 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1470-160X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T15:30:44Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Indicators |
| spelling | doaj.art-fe0c993d1cb9473595412dd80c2f67112023-04-28T08:55:04ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2023-06-01150110286Relating benthic sensitivity and status to spatial distribution and intensity of trawling in the Eastern MediterraneanChristopher J. Smith0Nadia K. Papadopoulou1Irida Maina2Stefanos Kavadas3P. Daniel van Denderen4Nikolaos Katsiaras5Sofia Reizopoulou6Ioannis Karakassis7Anastasios Tselepides8Irini Tsikopoulou9Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, Hellenic Centre of Marine Research, P.O. Box 2214, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, GreeceInstitute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, Hellenic Centre of Marine Research, P.O. Box 2214, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, GreeceInstitute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, Hellenic Centre of Marine Research, P.O. Box 2214, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, GreeceInstitute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, Hellenic Centre of Marine Research, P.O. Box 2214, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, GreeceGraduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI 02882, USA; Centre for Ocean Life, DTU Aqua, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, DenmarkInstitute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre of Marine Research, 46.7km Athinon-Souniou Ave., Anavissos 19013, GreeceInstitute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre of Marine Research, 46.7km Athinon-Souniou Ave., Anavissos 19013, GreeceBiology Department, University of Crete, Voutes University Campus, P.O. Box 2208, 70013, Heraklion, Crete, GreeceBiology Department, University of Crete, Voutes University Campus, P.O. Box 2208, 70013, Heraklion, Crete, Greece; Department of Maritime Studies, University of Piraeus, 80 M. Karaoli & A. Dimitriou St., 18534, Piraeus, GreeceInstitute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, Hellenic Centre of Marine Research, P.O. Box 2214, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; Corresponding author.The ecosystem approach to fisheries management needs information of not just where bottom trawlers operate but also on their impact on the seabed, which is also highly relevant to the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) Descriptor D6, seafloor integrity. In this study, we assess the benthic impact of bottom trawling in the Eastern Mediterranean in areas primarily fished by the Greek fleet. Seabed habitat sensitivity was modelled using macrofaunal longevity and biomass relationship based on data from more than 800 locations, representing 9 MSFD benthic habitats, and benthic status was assessed using the relative benthic status indicator. The pressure of seabed trawling was higher in circalittoral mud and circalittoral sand habitats showing a heterogeneous distribution pattern with intensive trawling in localized areas mainly coastal. Benthic status was high for all habitats reflecting the low trawling intensity and impact in most of the study area compared to other regions of Mediterranean or European waters. The results constitute the benchmark for benthic status in relation to trawling intensity in Eastern Mediterranean allowing to identify regions that are most at risk, and to prioritize management actions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X23004284Benthic statusBottom trawling impactRegional assessmentSeafloor integrityBenthic ecosystemMediterranean |
| spellingShingle | Christopher J. Smith Nadia K. Papadopoulou Irida Maina Stefanos Kavadas P. Daniel van Denderen Nikolaos Katsiaras Sofia Reizopoulou Ioannis Karakassis Anastasios Tselepides Irini Tsikopoulou Relating benthic sensitivity and status to spatial distribution and intensity of trawling in the Eastern Mediterranean Ecological Indicators Benthic status Bottom trawling impact Regional assessment Seafloor integrity Benthic ecosystem Mediterranean |
| title | Relating benthic sensitivity and status to spatial distribution and intensity of trawling in the Eastern Mediterranean |
| title_full | Relating benthic sensitivity and status to spatial distribution and intensity of trawling in the Eastern Mediterranean |
| title_fullStr | Relating benthic sensitivity and status to spatial distribution and intensity of trawling in the Eastern Mediterranean |
| title_full_unstemmed | Relating benthic sensitivity and status to spatial distribution and intensity of trawling in the Eastern Mediterranean |
| title_short | Relating benthic sensitivity and status to spatial distribution and intensity of trawling in the Eastern Mediterranean |
| title_sort | relating benthic sensitivity and status to spatial distribution and intensity of trawling in the eastern mediterranean |
| topic | Benthic status Bottom trawling impact Regional assessment Seafloor integrity Benthic ecosystem Mediterranean |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X23004284 |
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