[ Habitats in Danger ] Oceana´s proposal for protection [ Habitats in Danger ] Oceana´s proposal for protection Indice: Table of contents Preface 5 Introduction 7 List of identified habitat types 11 Chapter 1 - Seamounts 16 Chapter 2 - Constructive gases 23 Chapter 3 - Caves, caverns and overhangs 30 Chapter 4 - Pelagic environments 38 Chapter 5 - Marine deserts 48 Chapter 6 - Coral reefs 54 Chapter 7 - Gorgonian gardens 60 Chapter 8 - Sponge fields 64 Chapter 9 - Mollusc reefs 69 Chapter 10 - Worm reefs 75 Chapter 11 - Crustacean reefs 80 Chapter 12 - Seagrass meadows 84 Chapter 13 - Green algae meadows 90 Chapter 14 - Red algae concretions 94 Chapter 15 - Kelp forest 103 Chapter 16 - Fucoid beds 110 Chapter 17 - Other identified habitat 119 Conclusions 122 Bibliographic references 126 Photographic references 156 c OCEANA / Juan Carlos Calvín Illustrated habitats 158 *Cover: c OCEANA / Juan Cuetos Oceana Habitats in Danger Preface A collaboration agreement that was establishment through the Research and Projects Department of the Fundación Biodiversidad has given Oceana the opportunity to demonstrate new criteria in support of the selection of marine habitats of interest to the European Community. The context of the project is included within our mission and exclusive dedication to researching, protecting and recuperating the oceans through investigation and scientific work, with a focus on biodiversity, the environment and sustainable marine development. As part of a general diagnosis, the most environmentally important habitats have been identified in this report according to their unique qualities and biological and biogeographical interest. The following chapters detail research results and include proposals for representative types of natural habitats of interest to the European Community. Although the process of obtaining the data has been long and laborious, we have attempted to include extensive lists of taxonomic classifications that describe the communities associated with the identified habitats. Obviously, the lack of consistent data means priorities should be established, as a point of departure, for the development and implementation of action plans for the protection of these habitats. It is necessary to promote a model for sustainable development that values and conserves natural resources, in order to promote the development and consolidation of a coherent network of special conservation areas within the European Union. In both aspects, the development of the pro- posal stems from the lack of a coherent representation of marine habitats of interest to the community, as well as from the need to urgently update this information. These points specifically refer to the Habitats Directive 92/43/CEE, which is the European Community’s fundamental legislative instrument for halting the decline of biodiversity, specifically in the marine environment, with regards to its framework for application. c OCEANAOCEANA / Soledad / Juan Cuetos Esnaola 5 Oceana Habitats in Danger Introduction The objective of this proposal is to identify and In March, 2003, a workgroup of marine environmental subsequently evaluate habitats that show a repre- experts was created at the request of Member states´ sentation of the geomorphological, hydromorpho- governmental agencies´ Nature Conservation Direc- logical and biogenic structures that contribute to tors and sponsored by the Habitats Committee. Their elevated levels of biomass and specific biological charge was to come to a common understanding on richness. As such, they include a high level of biological the agreements of the Natura 2000 network for ma- diversity and an elevated number of endemic species. rine environments, in order to identify and manage Because the European Union has proposed to safe- those areas designated by the Habitats Directive. guard biodiversity, as well as wild fauna and flora within the territories of Member states, by means One of the objectives of this workgroup was to revise of natural habitat conservation, an ecological the definitions of some of the habitats already inclu- network of special areas of conservation (SACs) ded in the Interpretation Manual of Habitats, so that was created, known as “Natura 2000”. The Natura these may be adapted and modified in order to create 2000 network includes SACs, designated in a coherent network of marine protected areas in the accordance with the Habitats Directive, and also European Union. The results of this work have been includes Special Protection Areas for birds (SPAs), periodically updated by Nature Conservation established in accordance with the Birds Directive. Directors, the Habitats Committee and its scientific The Habitats Directive (92/43/CEE) and the Birds workgroup. Directive (79/409/CEE) are key instruments for Euro- pean Union policy in favour of biodiversity conserva- During an initial review, the need to complete the defi- tion. They are also fundamental tools to be used by the nitions of some of the habitats included the Interpre- EU in meeting more general objectives in these areas, tation Manual of Habitats was considered. The three such as ending biodiversity loss by the year 2010. types of habitats referred to are: sand banks (Code: 1110), reefs (Code: 1170) and undersea structures The Habitats Directive was adopted on May 21, 1992, formed by gas leeks (Code: 1180). Also, for habitat transmitted to member States on June 5, 1992, and 1110, additional scientific advising was necessary finally put into effect two years later, in June, 1994. and provided by an independent panel of experts Currently, only nine marine and coastal habitats are designated (Annex 1) as types of habitats of sponsored by the European Environmental Agency interest to the European Community, the conservation (EEA). The process is not yet complete, a fact that of which requires them to be designated as SACs. was confirmed during the last Habitats Committee. c OCEANA / Juan Cuetos 6 7 Oceana Habitats in Danger scientific inventories in order to propose types Oceana would like to contribute this document as a of habitats of interest to the European Commu- reference open to debate, both scientific and tech- nity which can be included in Annex 1 of the nical, regarding the state of marine conservation in Directive 92/43/CEE, and whose designation as order to guarantee benefits for wildlife and marine SACs is necessary to achieve their conserva- habitat protection. tion. Prompted by the need for greater repre- sentation of marine habitats in Europe, during its These studies have been made possible thanks 2005 and 2006 campaigns, Oceana documented some of the elements necessary to consider and to the research campaigns carried out aboard the support a complete revision of the Habitats Directive. Oceana Ranger catamaran. Through the use of film equipment and at times a remotely-operated subma- The methodology used led to the creation of a uni- rine vehicle (ROV), Oceana documented the habitats fied report, made up of a series of chapters and orga- and key deep-sea species that must be protected and nised by habitat groups, which presents a vision of the are proposed for inclusion in the lists of threatened natural values inherent in the regional seas of Europe. species and habitats. This report reflects Oceana’s mission and exclusive dedication to researching, protecting and recupe- The data compiled during the campaigns provide rating the oceans through studies and work related to biodiversity, the environment and sustainable marine a scientific contribution to the strategies that can development. be used to strengthen and ensure the conservation and sustainable development of natural resources, The main objective of this document is to demonstrate and to identify the threats to these ecosystems and the results of Oceana’s work in identifying, locating, evaluate their state of conservation. and documenting the susceptible marine habitats that should be included in national and regional legislation. As far as future actions are concerned, the informa- tion gathered will allow for knowledge regarding Given that various research centres, universities these marine ecosystems to be consolidated. A pri- and foundations are working on projects to identify c OCEANA / Juan Cuetos sites that should be prioritised by international poli- mary conclusion consists of the need to increase cies for marine and coastal biodiversity conserva- efforts to better understand these ecosystems. tion, it was important to combine efforts with these Certain problems exist for the marine environment nowledged the need for the European Union to revise institutions in order to obtain consistent results. due to a lack of data, complex jurisdictional issues its principal legislation, and have pointed out the Regarding the technical aspects of this project, and overlapping responsibilities amongst different lack of marine species and habitats Oceana would like to see an improved representation of The resulting research and documentation will be administrations. This problem is also being studied represented in its annexes. the different marine species and habitats in the future, communicated to the general public with the hope by a workgroup created by the European Commi- taking into account that some of these habitats are that it will also be used as a tool at institutional levels, ssion in which various Member states are participating. Although anticipated activities such as surveillance, severely deteriorating due to the impact produced given the current