STANDARD FORM FOR THE SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS FOR GFCM FISHERIES RESTRICTED AREAS (FRAs) IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AND THE BLACK SEA Proposal revised by (SAC technical group/subregional committee): Date of endorsement: Name of the FRA Bari Canyon (Southern Adriatic) Submitted by (institution, scientists, GFCM contracting parties, etc.): 1. ISMAR-CNR 2. IUCN Center for Mediterranean Cooperation 3. University of Bari 4. Coispa Bari Date of submission: April 2018 Table of contents 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................... 4 2. AREA IDENTIFICATION ...................................................................................................... 5 2.1. GFCM GEOGRAPHICAL SUBAREA ............................................................................ 5 2.2. NAME OF THE FRA.......................................................................................................... 5 2.3. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION ....................................................................................... 5 2.3.1. General location ........................................................................................................... 5 2.3.2. Precise location of the proposed core area ................................................................. 6 2.3.3. Buffer area (if applicable) ........................................................................................... 6 2.3.4. Location map ................................................................................................................ 7 2.3.5. Depth range .................................................................................................................. 7 2.4. SURFACE AREA ................................................................................................................ 7 3. SITE DESCRIPTION .............................................................................................................. 7 3.1. MAIN PHYSICAL FEATURES ........................................................................................ 8 3.1.1. Geology/Geomorphology ............................................................................................. 8 3.1.2. Other relevant physical or chemical features ............................................................ 8 3.2. BIOLOGICAL FEATURES .............................................................................................. 8 3.2.1. Habitats ......................................................................................................................... 8 3.2.2. List of species of regional importance ........................................................................ 9 3.2.3. Occurrence of biological and ecological processes relevant to fish resources ...... 11 3.3. USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES ................................................................................ 12 3.3.1. Current human use and development of fisheries .................................................. 12 3.3.2. Current human use and development other than fisheries .................................... 20 4. REGIONAL IMPORTANCE OF THE SITE...................................................................... 21 4.1. PRESENCE OF ECOSYSTEMS/HABITATS OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN................................................................................................. 21 4.2. PRESENCE OF HABITATS THAT ARE CRITICAL TO ENDANGERED, THREATENED OR ENDEMIC SPECIES ............................................................................... 22 4.3. OTHER RELEVANT FEATURES ................................................................................. 24 4.3.1. Educational interest ................................................................................................... 24 4.3.2. Scientific interest ........................................................................................................ 24 5. IMPACTS AND ACTIVITIES AFFECTING THE AREA ............................................... 25 5.1. IMPACTS AND ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE SITE .................................................... 25 5.1.1. Exploitation of natural resources ............................................................................. 25 5.1.2. Threats to habitats and species ................................................................................. 25 5.2. IMPACTS AND ACTIVITIES AROUND THE SITE .................................................. 26 5.2.1. Pollution ...................................................................................................................... 26 5.2.2. Other external, natural and/or anthropogenic threats ........................................... 26 5.2.3. Sustainable development measures .......................................................................... 26 6. EXPECTED DEVELOPMENT AND TRENDS ................................................................. 27 6.1. EXPECTED DEVELOPMENT AND TRENDS RELATED TO THE THREATS TO AND PRESSURES UPON THE AREA ..................................................................................... 27 7. MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION REGIME ............................................................. 27 7.1. LEGAL STATUS .............................................................................................................. 27 7.1.1. Historical background related to management in the area.................................... 27 7.1.2. Regulatory measures currently governing management on the site ..................... 28 7.1.3. Objectives .................................................................................................................... 28 7.2. LEGAL BACKGROUND ................................................................................................. 28 7.3. LEGAL PROVISIONS FOR MANAGEMENT ............................................................ 28 7.3.1. Zoning in the area ...................................................................................................... 28 7.3.2. Legal competence ....................................................................................................... 29 7.3.3. Other legal provisions ................................................................................................ 29 8. OBJECTIVES OF THE FRA AND PROPOSED MANAGEMENT MEASURES ......... 29 8.1. OBJECTIVES OF THE FRA .......................................................................................... 29 8.2. PROPOSED PROTECTION MEASURES FOR THE FRA ........................................ 30 8.2.1. Management measures .............................................................................................. 30 8.2.2. Monitoring, control and surveillance measures ...................................................... 30 8.2.3. Socio-economic impact(s) of the FRA ...................................................................... 31 8.2.4. Economic assessment of ecosystems services ........................................................... 31 9. OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION .............................................................................. 31 10. RELEVANT CONTACTS ..................................................................................................... 33 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Summary of the information contained in sections 2 to 8, including expected results (500 words maximum). The Adriatic Sea is one of the most productive basins in the Mediterranean Sea and hosts several fish stocks of commercial interest. Unfortunately, up to date fisheries management has failed to reverse trends of fish overexploitation and fishing pressure is affecting marine habitats, including vulnerable ecosystems. Demersal resources are highly vulnerable to certain fishing activities and it is a clear need to develop appropriate management approaches, including the protection of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VME) and Essential Fish Habitats (EFH) for the recovery of fish stocks and the support of sustainable human activities especially fishery. The adoption of spatial management measures, to effectively manage fisheries activity, could limit their impacts on fish stocks and can support the recovery of overexploited fish stocks, EFH as well as to protect VME habitats from the significant adverse impacts of bottom fishing. The Bari Canyon Fisheries Restricted Area (FRA), here proposed, is located in the Southern Adriatic Sea (GSA18) just 40 km off the city of Bari (Italy) and 100 km south of the Gargano National Park, in the Apulia Region. This area is identified as: i) area of unique physical features and hydrological processes (deep-water circulation influencing the entire Mediterranean Sea); ii) a VME hosting numerous endangered mega- and macro-benthic organisms such as cnidarians; iii) a nursery for some deep-cartilaginous species impacted by fisheries; iv) an area of important EFHs for different commercial species such as anchovy, sardine, European hake, red mullet and deep-rose shrimp among others. This document is proposing the establishment of a Fisheries Restricted Area (FRA) in the Bari Canyon. The core area includes the most valuable benthic habitats recorded in the Bari Canyon, such as the cold-water coral communities, that represent also important nursery and spawning areas. The buffer area extends the protection of complex and heterogeneous habitat present in the area. The goals of the FRA are to contribute to the sustainability of fisheries by protecting