Marine litter in an EBSA (Ecologically or Biologically Significant Area) of the central Mediterranean Sea:
Abundance, composition, impact on benthic species and basis for monitoring entanglement,

Environmental Pollution, Volume 236, May 2018, Pages 405-415, ISSN 0269-7491,

Abstract:
Marine litter is commonly observed everywhere in the ocean. In this
study, we analyzed 17 km of video footage, collected by a Remotely
Operated Vehicle (ROV) at depths ranging between 20 and 220 m, during 19
transects performed on the rocky banks of the Straits of Sicily.

Recently, the Contracting Parties of the Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD) recognized this site as an Ecologically or Biologically
Significant Area (EBSA). The research aim was to quantify the abundance
of marine litter and its impact on benthic fauna. Litter density ranged
from 0 items/100 m2 to 14.02 items/100 m2 with a mean (±standard error)
of 2.13 (±0.84) items/100 m2. The observed average density was higher
(5.2 items/100 m2) at depths >100 m than at shallower depths (<100 m,
0.71 items/100 m2). Lost or abandoned fishing lines contributed to
98.07% of the overall litter density, then representing the dominant
source of marine debris.
Litter interactions with fauna were frequently observed,
with 30% of litter causing “entanglement/coverage” and 15%
causing damage to sessile fauna. A total of 16 species showed
interaction (entanglement/coverage or damage) with litter items and 12
of these are species of conservation concern according to international
directives and agreements (CITES, Berne Convention, Habitat Directive,
SPA/BD Protocol, IUCN Red List); we also observed 7 priority habitats of
the SPA/BD Protocol.
This research will support the implementation of monitoring “Harm” as
recommended by the UN Environment/MAP Regional Plan
on Marine Litter Management in the Mediterranean, and the Marine
Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). The institution of a SPAMI in the
investigated area could represent a good management action for the
protection of this hotspot of biodiversity and to achieve a Good
Environmental Status (GES) for the marine environment by 2020, under the MSFD.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=10ZtZSF1Q1hBqTHJaHA8Dg2FTr3ZqBGPx
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.01.097.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749117330117)

The post Marine litter in an EBSA (Ecologically or Biologically Significant Area) of the central Mediterranean Sea: Abundance, composition, impact on benthic species and basis for monitoring entanglement, appeared first on One Earth - One Ocean e. V..

Marine litter in an EBSA (Ecologically or Biologically Significant Area) of the central Mediterranean Sea:
Abundance, composition, impact on benthic species and basis for monitoring entanglement,

Environmental Pollution, Volume 236, May 2018, Pages 405-415, ISSN 0269-7491,

Abstract:

Marine litter is commonly observed everywhere in the ocean.
In this study, we analyzed 17 km of video footage, collected by a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) at depths ranging between 20 and 220 m, during 19 transects performed on the rocky banks of the Straits of Sicily.

Recently, the Contracting Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) recognized this site as an Ecologically or Biologically Significant Area (EBSA). The research aim was to quantify the abundance of marine litter and its impact on benthic fauna. Litter density ranged from 0 items/100 m2 to 14.02 items/100 m2 with a mean (±standard error) of 2.13 (±0.84) items/100 m2. The observed average density was higher (5.2 items/100 m2) at depths >100 m than at shallower depths (<100 m, 0.71 items/100 m2). Lost or abandoned fishing lines contributed to
98.07% of the overall litter density, then representing the dominant source of marine debris. Litter interactions with fauna were frequently observed, with 30% of litter causing “entanglement/coverage” and 15% causing damage to sessile fauna.
A total of 16 species showed interaction (entanglement/coverage or damage) with litter items and 12 of these are species of conservation concern according to international directives and agreements (CITES, Berne Convention, Habitat Directive, SPA/BD Protocol, IUCN Red List); we also observed 7 priority habitats of the SPA/BD Protocol.

This research will support the implementation of monitoring “Harm” as recommended by the UNEnvironment/MAP Regional Plan on Marine Litter Management in the Mediterranean, and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). The institution of a SPAMI in the investigated area could represent a good management action for the
protection of this hotspot of biodiversity and to achieve a Good Environmental Status (GES) for the marine environment by 2020, under the MSFD.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=10ZtZSF1Q1hBqTHJaHA8Dg2FTr3ZqBGPx
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.01.097.(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749117330117)

The post Marine litter in an EBSA (Ecologically or Biologically Significant Area) of the central Mediterranean Sea: Abundance, composition, impact on benthic species and basis for monitoring entanglement appeared first on One Earth - One Ocean e. V..

Removal of derelict fishing gear has major economic impact

by David Malmquist | January 21, 2016

Study shows Bay watermen earned extra $20M from removal of ghost pots

A new study by researchers at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science
shows that a 6-year program to remove derelict crab pots from lower
Chesapeake Bay generated more than $20 million in harvest value for area
watermen.

Lead author Andrew Scheld, an assistant professor at VIMS, says “it’s
well known that derelict fishing gear can harm the environment and
increase crab mortality, but the economic impacts of this ‘ghost
fishing’ have rarely been quantified. Our study shows that VIMS’
collaborative efforts to remove ghost crab pots from the lower Bay led
to an additional 13,504 metric tons in harvest valued at $21.3 million—a
27% increase above that which would have occurred had the pots stayed in
place.”

The study, co-authored by VIMS professors Donna Bilkovic and Kirk
Havens, appears in today’s issue of Scientific Reports, an online,
open-access journal from the publishers of Nature. The research was
supported by NOAA’ s Marine Debris Program.

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Abstract
Every year, millions of pots and traps are lost in crustacean fisheries
around the world. Derelict fishing gear has been found to produce
several harmful environmental and ecological effects, however
socioeconomic consequences have been investigated less frequently. We
analyze the economic effects of a substantial derelict pot removal
program in the largest estuary of the United States, the Chesapeake Bay.
By combining spatially resolved data on derelict pot removals with
commercial blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) harvests and effort, we show
that removing 34,408 derelict pots led to significant gains in gear
efficiency and an additional 13,504 MT in harvest valued at US $21.3
million—a 27% increase above that which would have occurred without
removals. Model results are extended to a global analysis where it is
seen that US $831 million in landings could be recovered annually by
removing less than 10% of the derelict pots and traps from major
crustacean fisheries. An unfortunate common pool externality, the
degradation of marine environments is detrimental not only to marine
organisms and biota, but also to those individuals and communities whose
livelihoods and culture depend on profitable and sustainable marine
resource use.

http://www.nature.com/articles/srep19671.pdf

http://www.nature.com/articles/srep19671#supplementary-information

PDF files
1.
Supplementary Information

http://www.nature.com/article-assets/npg/srep/2016/160121/srep19671/extref/srep19671-s1.pdf

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