Pham et al. (2014). Deep-water longline fishing has reduced impact on Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems. Scientific Reports, 4, 4837, doi:10.1038/srep04837 (original) (raw)
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The effects of deep-sea bottom longlining on fish communities and the benthic ecosystem, as well as the interactions between fishing and seabirds, were studied based on data collected from a joint collaboration between the Spanish Institute of Oceanography and a longliner, carried out on the Hatton Bank area (north-east Atlantic) in 2008. A total of 38 longline sets were distributed mainly along the rugged bottom of the rocky outcrop at depths ranging from 750 to 1500 m. Deep-water sharks and lotids were predominant in the catches contributing respectively 80.4% and 13.1% in terms of weight. Deep-water sharks were predominant in the discards. By-catch of cold-water corals and small glass sponges occurred along the western flank of the Hatton Bank, while large hexactinellids were found along the eastern flank. Longlines fished the adult fraction of vulnerable deep-water sharks and lotids. High catches per unit effort values for these species were obtained in coral areas. A combination of seabird-scaring streamer lines and other measures of preventing seabird by-catch were used. Only one fulmar was captured and it survived. Data on distribution of marine litter and derelict deep-sea gillnets are also presented.
The impact of deep-sea fisheries and implementation of the UNGA Resolutions 61/105 and 64/72
2011
There is extensive documentation of a wide range of invertebrate bycatch in fishing gear (Ardron, 2005; Gass and Willison, 2005; Mortensen et al., 2005; Shester and Ayers, 2005; Stone, 2006; Clark and Koslow, 2007; Edinger et al., 2007; Althaus et al., 2009; Clark and Rowden, 2009). Bottom fishing has been shown to not only damage or destroy long-lived emergent epifaunal animals such as corals and sponges, but also to harm the three-dimensional complexity of the seabed, reducing species diversity and faunal biomass ( ...