ICES/NAFO WGDEC REPORT 2015 ICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE ICES CM 2015/ACOM:27 Report of the ICES/NAFO Joint Working Group on Deep-water Ecology (WGDEC) 16–20 February 2015 Horta, Azores, Portugal International Council for the Exploration of the Sea Conseil International pour l’Exploration de la Mer H. C. Andersens Boulevard 44–46 DK-1553 Copenhagen V Denmark Telephone (+45) 33 38 67 00 Telefax (+45) 33 93 42 15 www.ices.dk
[email protected] Recommended format for purposes of citation: ICES. 2015. Report of the ICES/NAFO Joint Working Group on Deep-water Ecology (WGDEC), 16–20 February 2015, Horta, Azores, Portugal. ICES CM 2015/ACOM:27. 113 pp. For permission to reproduce material from this publication, please apply to the Gen- eral Secretary. The document is a report of an Expert Group under the auspices of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea and does not necessarily represent the views of the Council. © 2015 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea ICES/NAFO WGDEC REPORT 2015 | i Contents Executive summary ................................................................................................................ 4 Opening of the meeting ........................................................................................................ 5 1 Adoption of the agenda ................................................................................................ 6 2 Provide all available new information on distribution of VMEs in the North Atlantic with a view to advising on any new closures to bottom fisheries or revision of existing closures to bottom fisheries (NEAFC standing request). In addition, provide new information on location of habitats sensitive to particular fishing activities (i.e. vulnerable marine ecosystems, VMEs) within EU waters (EC request) ................................... 8 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Areas within the NEAFC regulatory area ........................................................