Theme Session on the Cold Water Corals and Structural Habitats in Deep Water: Biology, Threats and Protection (AA) ICES CM 2004/AA:01 Withdrawn ICES CM 2004/AA:02 Withdrawn Invertebrate Associates of Deep Water Alcyonaceans: Atlantic and Pacific Patterns L. Watling Sea fans and soft corals are common members of tropical shallow water reef communities. As with their shallow water counterparts, deep-dwelling alcyonaceans are often devoid of invertebrate residents. Three groups that have been able to successfully colonize living alcyonaceans, however, are the crinoids, brittle stars, and scaled polychaete worms. The former are facultative associates, whereas the brittle stars, worms, and other invertebrates seem to be obligate commen- sals. The scale-worms are found on several octocoral families but seem to be abundant on members of the family Prim- noidae, where they can elicit changes in the formation of the sclerites by the host species. Brittle stars, on the other hand, are the most ubiquitous of all invertebrates living on deep water alcyonacean corals, being found on members of nearly all families. Cold water octocorals in the North Pacific appear to have higher levels of commensalistic inverte- brates than their counterparts in the Atlantic. In the North Atlantic, the presence of deep water alcyonaceans increases biodiversity levels only slightly because the number of associated species is low, but in the North Pacific biodiversity levels are increased considerably. Darling Marine Center, University of Maine, Walpole, ME, USA [tel: 1-207-563-3146 x248; e-mail: wat- [email protected]] ICES CM 2004/AA:03 Withdrawn Demersal fish distribution and abundance in deepsea coral and surrounding sedimentary seabed Pascal Lorance and Karine Olu Fishes were counted from the video records from the front Camera of an ROV used to survey 5 sites to the south west of Ireland from 600 to 1000 m. Each site included carbonated mounds covered by dense coral colonies, and the survey area covered both the coral habitat and the surrounding sedimentary seabed. For some sites, bentic habitats were further categorized according to the density and status (alive, dead, debris) of corals and other organisms. Distribution and density of fish were estimated for the coral and sedimentary habitats. On some sites obvious trawl marks on the seabed indicated trawling activity around the seamounts, however, impacts of trawling in the coral habitat itself where seldom observed suggesting that sedimentary habitat are exploited while seamounts are less fished. In addi- tion to trawling around the coral habitat, the observation of lost nets and debris of fishing gears indicate that some fish- ing effort from static gears is exerted in the coral habitat itself. Strong differences in fish density and species composition were observed between the coral and sedimentary habitats. For a number of species this is discussed in terms of habitats preference and local effect of fisheries exploitation. Dif- ferences between seamounts reflect effects of factors such as depth, latitude and local hydrology. Keywords: deepsea corals, fish density, fish community, visual census, impact of fishing. Pascal Lorance: IFREMER, BP 70, 29280 Plouzané, France, [tel: +33(0)298224649; fax: +33(0)298224653, email: [email protected]]. Karine Olu: same address ICES CM 2004/AA:04 The 3rd International Symposium on Deep-Sea Corals – the world comes to tropical Miami to discuss coldwater corals and other deep-sea habitat and associated fauna Robert J. Brock, R. George, and L. Watling 1 With millions of people continually moving to the coast, water quality, habitat, and the fisheries that depend upon natu- rally functioning ecosystem processes are under constant assault. Because of coastal eutrophication, degradation and loss of habitat, and declines in fish stocks, human activities have pushed further and further offshore into deeper water out of necessity. Technological advances continue to strive to make activities such as trawl fishing, oil and gas explora- tion, mineral extraction, and the laying of telecommunication cables in deeper water more cost effective and feasible. Effective management decisions ensuring that deep-water ecosystems are sustainable can only occur with the availabil- ity of sound science. Between November 28 – December 2, 2005, deep-sea scientists from around the world will share with each other insights into: a) coldwater coral taxonomy and molecular genetics; b) habitat mapping, sampling and characterization tools and techniques of coldwater corals and other important deep- sea structural habitats; c) geology, paleontology and climate change using coldwater corals; d) biodiversity and microbial and invertebrate associations with coldwater corals; e) fisheries and fish ecology; f) ecosystem-based approaches to effectively managing important deep-sea habitat; g) biology, growth and reproduction of coldwater corals; and h) the conservation and effective management of the deep-sea. Keywords: coldwater corals, deep-sea habitat, fisheries, seamounts, ecosystems Robert J. Brock, U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Fisheries), Office of Science and Technology, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland USA (tel: + 1 301-713-2363. fax + 1 301-713-1875), e-mail: [email protected]. R. George: George Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability, Wilmington, North Carolina USA 28409. L. Watling, University of Maine, Darling Marine Center, Walpole, Maine USA 04573 ICES CM 2004/AA:05 Macrofaunal structure and habitat utilization within deep coral bank communities on the southeastern United States slope Martha S. Nizinski, Steve W. Ross, and Kenneth J. Sulak Deep coral banks, composed mostly of Lophelia pertusa, occur in scattered patches off the southeastern US (350-700 m). Fish and invertebrate communities of these banks are poorly known. Also, the affinity of organisms for reef habitat in the deep sea is not well understood. From 2000-2004 we surveyed the macrofauna of deep coral banks off the Caro- linas using a research submersible and bottom trawls. We documented community structure (composition, abundance, sizes, habitat utilization) of macrofauna on and near the coral habitat, and investigated to what extent the fauna is obli- gate to the reef. In particular how are organisms distributed within the reef structure (prime high reef, secondary low colonies, coral rubble zones)? Continental slope Lophelia coral banks off the southeastern US support a distinctive fish assemblage compared to non-coral habitats of similar depths. We have identified over 41 fish species and approxi- mately 20 invertebrate species on coral banks. Numerically dominant fish species observed on this habitat include Beryx decadactylus, Helicolenus dactylopterus, Laemonema melanurum, Hoplostethus occidentalis, Conger oceanicus, and L. barbatulum. Numerically dominate in- vertebrates include two crustaceans (Eumunida picta, Rochinia crassa) and four echinoderms (Ophiacantha bidentata, Echinus gracilis, E. tylodes, Novodinia antillensis ). Several fishes (Squalus asper, L. melanurum, H. occidentalis , S. meadi, and B. decadactylus) may be restricted to the coral habitat and should be considered primary reef fishes. The invertebrates, however, are common locally and may use the habitat more opportunistically. Further investigation will add species to this deep reef assemblage and help refine our hypothesis of primary reef asso- ciates versus opportunistic reef utilization. Keywords: Lophelia, western Atlantic, community structure, habitat utilization, associated fauna. Martha S. Nizinski: NOAA/NMFS National Systematics Laboratory, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC 20560, USA [tel: +1 202 357 2639; fax +1 202 357 2986; email: [email protected]]. Steve W. Ross: Center for Marine Science, Univ. North Carolina-Wilmington, 5600 Marvin Moss Lane, Wilmington, NC 28409, USA [tel: +1 910 395 3905, email: [email protected]]. Kenneth J. Sulak: U.S. Geological Survey, Center for Aquatic Re- source Studies, 7920 NW 71st Street, Gainesville, FL 32653, USA. [tel: +1 352 264 3500, fax: +1 352 378 4956, email: [email protected]]. 2 ICES CM 2004/AA:06 Lophelia bioherms and lithoherms as fish habitats on the Blake Plateau: Biodiversity and Sustainability Robert Y. George With the decline of fisheries in shallow continental shelf, there is a likelihood for commercial and sports-fishing pres- sure dipping down to deep-waters and deep-sea over the slope and the seamounts. It is now well-known that dense ag- gregations of scleractinian coral Lophelia pertusa at bathyal depths (300 to 950 m) on both sides of the North Atlantic Ocean constitute fish habitats with high concentrations of non-target and commerical fish species. Oculina reefs off central Florida became the first MPAs in EEZ in the US coast in 1980s but in 1990s failure in management strategies resulted in habitat loss and fish decline (grouper and snapper species). The South Atlantic Fisheries Management Coun- cil (SAFMC) defined the Oculina reefs as Essential Fisheries Habitat with a HAPC status (Habitat Areas of Particular Concern). North and east of the Oculina reserve are a series of Lophelia reefs that are mostly lithotherms along the Hat- teras-Florida slope upto North Carolina (300 -500 m) and possibly bioherms at deeper depths at > 800 m on the eastern edge of Blake Plateau. This paper describes six potential MPAs on Blake Plateau for the purpose of developing an eco- system approach for sustainability