Impact of Mediterranean SSF on habitats included in the Habitats Directive and the vulnerable species inhabiting therein.
Josep LLORET Habitats Directive final goal: Favourable conservation status for species and habitats covered
Annex I and II “Favourable conservation status” for SPECIES:
It is attained when certain conditions are met regarding the status of these species
Only 2 species in Annex II have commercial interest: Alosa alosa & Alosa fallax
Scyllarides latus & Litophaga litophaga (Annex V)
The remaining are by-catch species Driftnet Drifting longline 3 cetaceans, 3 turtles, 6 chondrichthyans 1 cetacean, 2 turtles, 5 seabirds
Stenella coeruleoalba DermochelysChelonia midas coriacea Caretta caretta
Tursiops truncatus Prionace glauca Mobula mobular Puffinus mauretanicus Gillnet Trammel net 2 cetaceans, 2 chondrichthyans, 4 seabirds
1 cetacean, 1 chondrichthyan, 4 seabirds, 4 invertebrates
Puffinus yelkouan Cetorhinus maximus
Tursiops truncatus Maërl Delphinus delphi
Lamna nasus Calonectris diomedea
Corallium rubrum Demersal longline 2 turtles, 3 chondrichthyans, 4 seabirds
Caretta caretta
Caretta caretta Mobula mobular
Galeorhinus galeus Phalacrocorax aristotelislis “Favourable conservation status” for HABITATS
It is attained when certain conditions are met regarding the status of these habitats and their typical species inhabiting
• 1120 * Posidonia beds (Posidonia oceanica) • 1130 Estuaries • 1150 * Coastal lagoons • 1160 Large shallow inlets and bays • 1170 “Reefs”: – Coralligenous assemblages – Maërl (Lithothamnion coralloides & Phymatolithon calcareum / annex V), part of the “algal detritic assemblages” – Rocky macroalgal beds – Deep water corals – Crinoid beds?
*priority
Posidonia meadows
Ardizzone et al 2000 -Is bottom trawling responsible for the regression of Posidonia oceanica meadows in the Mediterranean Sea? In Effects of Fishing on non-target species and Habitats. Eds. M.J. Kaiser and S.J. de Groot. Blackwell Science, 37-46
Sánchez-Jérez and Ramos 1996. Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Health, 5: 239-253
Larkum, A.W., R J. Orth, C. M. Duarte (Editors). (2006). Seagrasses: Biology, Ecology and Conservation. Springer, New York, 691 Impact of certain gears still not “clear”
Gangui is estimated to affect a higher % of meadows than the limits established in the management plan
No analysis can be made on the recent trends in conservation of the meadows
Unknown species catch composition, sizes and discards
…but High social importance
STECF (2017). STECF 55TH PLENARY MEETING REPORT (PLEN-17-02) Large shallow bays
Sánchez et al., 2008. EU Project DG XIV Study nº97/0020: 124 pp Demestre et al. RESPONSE. EU project Q5RS- 2002-00787 Demestre et al. COMSOM Proyecto. CTM2008-04617/MAR; CTM2008-04206-E/MAR Sartor et al., 2007 Rapp. Comm. int. Mer Médit., 38, 2007 Palanques et al., 2001. Limn Oceanogr.46:1100-1110
Reefs: Rocky macroalgal beds (e.g. Cystoseira)
Sala E, Zabala M (1996) Mar Ecol Prog Ser 140: 71–81
Hereu B et al (2008). Ecology 89: 3423–35. Sala E, et al. (2012) PloS one 7:e32742. Reefs: Coralligenous
Trammel net for spinny lobster Cap de Creus: 44 benthic species, many fragile
Bo et al. 2014.. ECOSAFIMED. Report on the onboard fishing surveys, 32 p. Reefs: Maërl beds
• Trawling / major threat offshore: Physical and biological degradation in Malta and Spain
• Trammel nets / minor threat in costal waters: selective removal and mortality of large rhodoliths in Malta
Barbera, C., et al. 2003. Mar. Freshw. Ecosyst. 13: S65–S76. Massutí (this workshop) Reefs: Deep water (cold) corals
Submarine canyons in the Gulf of Lions
Gili et al 2012. Hermes EU project Other reefs
Crinoid beds on non-biogenic substrata
Leptometra phalangium
Colloca et al. 2004. Marine Biology 145: 1129-1145 “Favourable conservation status” for HABITATS Also considers the conservation status of its typical species -
Too many “typical species” ! We need to choose
Choice: Vulnerable species that are exploited Case study: • Small-scale fisheries (SSF) • Study areas (MPAs): – Cap de Creus Posidonia beds – Cerbère-Banyuls Coralligenous – Côte Bleue Maerl Shallow bays Criteria to define vulnerability of exploited species • Included in the EU Habitats Directive
+ • Included in the IUCN Red List - Mediterranean regional assessment as CR, EN, VU and NT + LC with an IV>60 (high to very high vulnerability)
+ • Included in international conventions for the protection of the biodiversity: Barcelona, Bern, CITES
Posidonia oceanica 9 vulnerable exploited species
Dentex dentex
Chelon labrosus
Sciaena umbra Epinephelus marginatus
Labrus viridis
Diplodus sargus
Labrus mixtus
Torpedo marmorata Scyllarus arctus Coralligenous reefs 21 vulnerable exploited species
Dentex dentex Dicentrarchus labrax Scyllarus arctus
Homarus gammarus
Sciaena umbra Epinephelus marginatus
Labrus viridis
Diplodus sargus
Labrus mixtus
Conger conger Dasyatis pastinaca Lophius piscatorius Scyllarides latus
Zeus faber
Scyliorhinus canicula
Scorpaena scrofa Torpedo marmorata Palinurus elephas
Scorpaena elongata Pagrus pagrus Muraena helena Maërl
2 vulnerable exploited species
Palinurus elephas Scorpaena scrofa Large shallow inlets and bays 1 vulnerable exploited species
Merluccius merluccius Overall 37 vulnerable species are exploited in Natura 2000 habitats in the 3 study areas representing 45.4% of the total catch made by artisanal fisheries
Gillnet Merluccius merluccius 23% of the total gillnet catch
Trammel net Scorpaena scrofa 13% of the total trammel net catch
Longline Conger conger
54% of the total longline catch Vulnerable species represent 18.5% of the total catch of recreational fisheries in 9 areas
Boat fishing Dentex dentex 2% of the total boat fishing catch
Dicentrarchus labrax
Spear fishing E. marginatus
15% of the total spearfishing catch
Shore fishing
Dicentrarchus labrax 6% of the total shore fishing catch Coastal lagoons
Dicentrarchus labrax
Dicentrarchus punctatus
Chelon labrosus Dasyatis pastinaca Estuaries
Dicentrarchus labrax Dicentrarchus punctatus
Umbrina cirrosa
Alosa alosa
Chelon labrosus Alosa fallax Anguilla anguilla CONCLUSIONS 1. New studies and management measures needed to tackle the impact of fisheries on certain habitats and its typical species. 2. Pay particular attention to reef habitats and vulnerable exploited species, in order to contribute to favorable conservation status of habitats and sustainable fisheries 3. Importance of considering small-scale fisheries (SSF), not only trawling! 4. Need to join forces / different backgrounds: DG Env, DG Mare, STECF, DCF-Marine Strategy Framework Directive, GFCM, National and Regional Gvts, MedPAN, NGOs, MPAs, Fishermen associations (SSF included), scientists Hvala / Thanks