The gorgonians Paramuricea clavata (Risso, 1826) and Eunicella cavolini (Koch, 1887) are important habitatforming species within the Mediterranean coralligenous habitats, creating complex, three-dimensional forests that greatly contribute to the underwater landscape of the coastal hard grounds. Dense forests of both species are present within the Portofino Marine Protected Area (Ligurian Sea, NW Mediterranean Sea), showing a distinct bathymetric separation and site-specific differences. Quantitative evidences obtained with a monitoring census conducted in 2016 in 16 sites within the MPA support the existence of a widespread damage on these populations partially due to the mechanical injuries inflicted by recreational and professional demersal fishing gears. Considering all the studied populations, it resulted that 53% of the colonies of P. clavata and 36% of the colonies of E. cavolini were showing traces of impact, of which 10% in P. clavata and 7% in E. cavolini were due to direct entanglements with lost longlines. In the last decades, recurrent massive mortalities related to temperature anomalies and storms, have greatly reduced the gorgonian populations in this area and fishing impact severely affects survived or recovering colonies. Considering the vulnerable status of these species, and the increasing stress due to climate change, a correct management of the anthropic pressures is strongly needed to help preserving these relevant ecosystems.

Evidences of fishing impact on the coastal gorgonian forests inside the Portofino MPA (NW Mediterranean Sea)

F. Betti;G. Bavestrello;M. Bo;F. Enrichetti;
2020-01-01

Abstract

The gorgonians Paramuricea clavata (Risso, 1826) and Eunicella cavolini (Koch, 1887) are important habitatforming species within the Mediterranean coralligenous habitats, creating complex, three-dimensional forests that greatly contribute to the underwater landscape of the coastal hard grounds. Dense forests of both species are present within the Portofino Marine Protected Area (Ligurian Sea, NW Mediterranean Sea), showing a distinct bathymetric separation and site-specific differences. Quantitative evidences obtained with a monitoring census conducted in 2016 in 16 sites within the MPA support the existence of a widespread damage on these populations partially due to the mechanical injuries inflicted by recreational and professional demersal fishing gears. Considering all the studied populations, it resulted that 53% of the colonies of P. clavata and 36% of the colonies of E. cavolini were showing traces of impact, of which 10% in P. clavata and 7% in E. cavolini were due to direct entanglements with lost longlines. In the last decades, recurrent massive mortalities related to temperature anomalies and storms, have greatly reduced the gorgonian populations in this area and fishing impact severely affects survived or recovering colonies. Considering the vulnerable status of these species, and the increasing stress due to climate change, a correct management of the anthropic pressures is strongly needed to help preserving these relevant ecosystems.
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
90. Betti et al., 2020. Evidences of fishing impact on gorgonian forests.pdf

accesso chiuso

Tipologia: Documento in versione editoriale
Dimensione 2.35 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
2.35 MB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11567/996802
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 38
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 36
social impact