The Seascape of Demersal Fish Nursery Areas in the North Mediterranean Sea, a First Step Towards the Implementation of Spatial Planning for Trawl Fisheries
Type | Article |
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Date | 2015-03 |
Language | English |
Author(s) | Colloca Francesco1, Garofalo Germana1, Bitetto Isabella2, Facchini Maria Teresa2, Grati Fabio3, Martiradonna Angela2, Mastrantonio Gianluca4, Nikolioudakis Nikolaos5, Ordinas Francesc6, Scarcella Giuseppe3, Tserpes George5, Pilar Tugores M.6, Valavanis Vasilis5, Carlucci Roberto7, Fiorentino Fabio1, Follesa Maria C.8, Iglesias Magdalena6, Knittweis Leyla9, Lefkaditou Eugenia5, Lembo Giuseppe2, Manfredi Chiara10, Massuti Enric6, Pace Marie Louise11, Papadopoulou Nadia5, Sartor Paolo12, Smith Christopher J.5, Spedicato Maria Teresa2 |
Affiliation(s) | 1 : CNR, IAMC, Mazara Del Vallo, Italy. 2 : COISPA Tecnol & Ric, Bari, Italy. 3 : CNR, Ist Sci Marine ISMAR, Ancona, Italy. 4 : Univ Rome Tre, Dept Econ, I-00146 Rome, Italy. 5 : Hellen Ctr Marine Res, Iraklion, Greece. 6 : Ctr Oceanog Balears, Inst Espanol Oceanog, Palma De Mallorca, Spain. 7 : Univ Bari, Dept Biol, Bari, Italy. 8 : Univ Cagliari, Dept Life & Environm Sci, Cagliari, Italy. 9 : Univ Malta, Dept Biol, Msida, Malta. 10 : Univ Bologna, Lab Biol Marina Fano, Bologna, Italy. 11 : Minist Sustainable Dev Environm & Climate Change, Dept Fisheries & Aquaculture, Santa Venera, Malta. 12 : Ctr Interuniv Biol Marina & Ecol Applicata G Bacc, Livorno, Italy. |
Source | Plos One (1932-6203) (Public Library Science), 2015-03 , Vol. 10 , N. 3 , P. e011959 (25p.) |
DOI | 10.1371/journal.pone.0119590 |
WOS© Times Cited | 90 |
Abstract | The identification of nursery grounds and other essential fish habitats of exploited stocks is a key requirement for the development of spatial conservation planning aimed at reducing the adverse impact of fishing on the exploited populations and ecosystems. The reduction in juvenile mortality is particularly relevant in the Mediterranean and is considered as one of the main prerequisites for the future sustainability of trawl fisheries. The distribution of nursery areas of 11 important commercial species of demersal fish and shellfish was analysed in the European Union Mediterranean waters using time series of bottom trawl survey data with the aim of identifying the most persistent recruitment areas. A high interspecific spatial overlap between nursery areas was mainly found along the shelf break of many different sectors of the Northern Mediterranean indicating a high potential for the implementation of conservation measures. Overlap of the nursery grounds with existing spatial fisheries management measures and trawl fisheries restricted areas was also investigated. Spatial analyses revealed considerable variation depending on species and associated habitat/depth preferences with increased protection seen in coastal nurseries and minimal protection seen for deeper nurseries (e.g. Parapenaeus longirostris 6%). This is partly attributed to existing environmental policy instruments (e.g. Habitats Directive and Mediterranean Regulation EC 1967/2006) aiming at minimising impacts on coastal priority habitats such as seagrass, coralligenous and maerl beds. The new knowledge on the distribution and persistence of demersal nurseries provided in this study can support the application of spatial conservation measures, such as the designation of no-take Marine Protected Areas in EU Mediterranean waters and their inclusion in a conservation network. The establishment of no-take zones will be consistent with the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy applying the ecosystem approach to fisheries management and with the requirements of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive to maintain or achieve seafloor integrity and good environmental status. |
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