Evidences of fishing impact on the coastal gorgonian forests inside the Portofino MPA (NW Mediterranean Sea)
Betti, F.; Bavestrello, G.; Bo, M.; Ravanetti, G.; Enrichetti, F.; Coppari, M.; Cappanera, V.; Venturini, S.; Cattaneo-Vietti, R. (2020). Evidences of fishing impact on the coastal gorgonian forests inside the Portofino MPA (NW Mediterranean Sea). Ocean Coast. Manag. 187: 105105. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2020.105105 In: Ocean & Coastal Management. Elsevier Science: Barking. ISSN 0964-5691; e-ISSN 1873-524X, more |  |
| Keywords | Eunicella cavolini (Koch, 1887) [WoRMS]; Paramuricea clavata (Risso, 1827) [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal | | Author keywords | Paramuricea clavata; Eunicella cavolini; Fishing impact; Ligurian sea; Conservation |
| Authors | | Top | Dataset | - Betti, F.
- Bavestrello, G.
- Bo, M.
| - Ravanetti, G.
- Enrichetti, F.
- Coppari, M.
| - Cappanera, V.
- Venturini, S.
- Cattaneo-Vietti, R.
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| Abstract | The gorgonians Paramuricea clavata (Risso, 1826) and Eunicella cavolini (Koch, 1887) are important habitat-forming 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. |
| Dataset | - Linares, Cristina; Figuerola, Laura; Gómez-Gras, Daniel; Pagès-Escolà, Marta; Olvera, Àngela, Aubach, Àlex; Amate, Roger; Figuerola, Blanca; Kersting, Diego; Ledoux, Jean-Baptiste; López-Sanz, Àngel; López-Sendino, Paula; Medrano, Alba; Garrabou, Joaquim; (2020); CorMedNet- Distribution and demographic data of habitat-forming invertebrate species from Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages between 1882 and 2019, more
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