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 .