Q 7 - How to protect deep Vulnerable marine Ecosystems (VMEs) (strategies, measures, etc.)?

Narrower “Questions”

• Q 50 - How can deep-water VMEs be effectively identified and conserved with regards to anthropogenic impacts arising from human activities?

Related sites

• North-Western Mediterranean (NW-MED)

Notes

Key words: VME, indicator for vulnerable species, protection, survival, maintenance, functionality, trajectories, priorities, future, climate change, sensitivity to human impacts, connectivity

Answers

Operational approaches

• Dispersion and connectivity modelling (Dispersion and connectivity modelling)

• Cumulative Effects Assessment (CEA) (Cumulative Effects Assessment (CEA))

ESE1 - Ecological toolkit

Practices: Scoping Data collection and presentation Analysis and diagnosis Prioritisation and designation

Spatial scales: Transboundary / sea basin National Regional / local

Protection regimes: Strict protection Non-strict protection

Marine zones: Coastal zone Deep sea

Applications: Deep-sea ecosystems conservation strategy in the North-Western Mediterranean: a blueprint for 10% of

Criteria classes: 1.1.1 Vulnerability 1.1.4. Life cycle critical areas

Criteria

• Category Ecological and genetic criteria

  • Subcategory Functional

    • Macro-criterion Vulnerability

    • Macro-criterion Life cycle critical areas

Operational approaches: (Method) Dispersion and connectivity modelling (Method) Cumulative Effects Assessment (CEA)

Implementation details

To answer this question, it is important to define the target of the analysis. Through the Scoping phase, define the targets and the characteristics of vulnerable marine ecosystems for the marine areas/regions. The scoping phase can be targeted to defining the indicator species for the VMEs and consider them as priority conservation target (biological target). There is no official list of species considered as VME indicators for each marine region, but a full worldwide list of species from FAO and Ocean with a list of criteria used to define a VME. In the scoping phase, also identify the relevant institutions responsible of VME identification and management, institutions that can be contacted to explore the state of the art and available knowledge and data around VMEs in the case study area and related marine region. For example, in the Mediterranean Sea, the GFCM is responsible for the co-management of VME and bottom trawling, with working documents highlighting 76 species plus 2 families (Aphanipathidae and sabellidae) and 9 genus characterizing VME in the Mediterranean Sea. The criteria to define VME according to FAO (2009) are the following: - Uniqueness and rarity: area or ecosystem containing unique or rare species whose loss could not be compensate by similar area or ecosystem - Functional significance of the habitat: discrete areas or habitats that are necessary for survival, function, spawning/reproduction or recovery of fish stocks, particular life-history stages or of rare, threatened or endangered marine species - Fragility: An ecosystem that is highly susceptible to degradation by anthropogenic activities. - Life-history traits of component species that make recovery difficult: ecosystems that are characterized by populations or assemblages of species with one or more of the following characteristics: slow growth rates, late age of maturity, low of unpredictable recruitment, long lived, etc. - Structural complexity: an ecosystem that is characterized by complex physical structures created by significant concentrations of biotic and abiotic features. In these ecosystems, ecological processes are usually highly dependent on these structured systems. Further, such ecosystems often have high diversity, which is dependent on the structuring organisms. The above criteria by the FAO defining VME’s are related to the macro-criteria from ESE1: Vulnerability (all inner criteria), Stability (Ecosystem Integrity), Functional hotspots (Presence of key functional species) , Life cycle critical areas (larval sources and spawning aggregation areas, recruitment areas). Once the targets of the analysis are defined, proceed in identifing areas of VME considering indicator species presence and concentration (hotspot) based on up-to-date scientific knowledge, and potentially the development of models such as habitat suitability models, taking into consideration the levels of uncertainty of model output. Then, analyze species traits and their sensitivity and exposure to anthropogenic pressures and climate change to assess the vulnerability of indicator species for VMEs. In general, main direct pressures are driven by fisheries, especially bottom-trawling and longlines, mining and, on the coastal areas, anchorage and tourism. As indirect pressures, climate change stressors are considered for a qualitative or quantitative analysis depending on available knowledge, data, information and available skills and budget for the assessment. Define priorities of conservation (both species and areas) applying risk assessment based on exposure, sensitivity and vulnerability analysis. Include connectivity considerations to evaluate the potential benefits of protecting certain areas. With respect to developing management strategies, identify the level of protection or each areas of interest, related responsible authorities and management regimes. Promote closure to fisheries, especially bottom trawling for benthic species. Develop appropriate protection and monitoring program in the chosen areas. At least, develop spatial closure with adequate time frame regarding species life-cycle and growth (e.g., closure must be permanent and non annual with an adequate duration of 10 years for corals) and eventually, promote restoration initiatives if relevant.

Notes

FAO (2009), International Guidelines for the Management of Deep-sea Fisheries in the High Seas, Directives internationales sur la gestion de la pêche profonde en haute mer.Directrices Internacionales para la Ordenación de las Pesquerías de Aguas Profundas en Alta Mar. Rome/Roma, FAO. 73p. [link at https://www.fao.org/in-action/vulnerable-marine-ecosystems/criteria/en/].

Withouck I., De Raedemaecker F., Georgiou P., Gutierrez D., Calado H., Costa A.C., Pegorelli C., Garcia Sanábria J., Garcia Onetti J., de Andres M., Stancheva M., Stanchev, H., Spinu A., Bongiorni, L., Bekaert, M., Conversi, A., Cambra, E., Barbanti A., Randone M., Markovic, M., Boilevin, V., Barboza, F. R., Pınarbaşı K., Stojanovic I., Lukic I., (2023) Summary report of existing criteria, species and habitat lists used in conservation and restoration initiatives (Deliverable – D2.2., under the WP2 of MSP4BIO project (GA n° 101060707))

Cambra E., Conversi A., Whatley L., Menegon S., Beckaert M., Bongiorni L., Calado H., Pinarbasi K., Barboza F., Lauri K., Sciascia R., Cristina A., Marasovic T, Boudy C., Alloncle N., Gissi E. (2024). Guidance for including climate change scenarios in protection and prioritization strategies for Marine Protected Areas development. Deliverable D3.3, under the WP3 of MSP4BIO project (GA n°101060707)

References

• Withouck I., De Raedemaecker F., Georgiou P., Gutierrez D., Calado H., Costa A.C., Pegorelli C., Garcia Sanábria J., Garcia Onetti J., de Andres M., Stancheva M., Stanchev, H., Spinu A., Bongiorni, L., Bekaert, M., Conversi, A., Cambra, E., Barbanti A., Randone M., Markovic, M., Boilevin, V., Barboza, F. R., Pınarbaşı K., Stojanovic I., Lukic I., (2023) Summary report of existing criteria, species and habitat lists used in conservation and restoration initiatives (Deliverable – D2.2., under the WP2 of MSP4BIO project (GA n° 101060707))

Applications

• Deep-sea ecosystems conservation strategy in the North-Western Mediterranean: a blueprint for 10% of

Measures

ESE1 - Ecological toolkit