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Stamp T, Pittman SJ, Holmes LA, Rees A, Ciotti BJ, Thatcher H, Davies P, Hall A, Wells G, Olczak A, Sheehan EV. Restorative function of offshore longline mussel farms with ecological benefits for commercial crustacean species. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 951:174987. [PMID: 39142406 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2024] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/21/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Offshore ocean aquaculture is expanding globally to meet the growing demand for sustainable food production. At the United Kingdom's largest longline mussel farm, we assessed the potential for the farm to improve the habitat suitability for commercially important crustaceans. Modelled distribution patterns (GAM & GLM) predicted the low complexity seabed beneath the mussel farm was 34-94 % less suitable for European lobster (Homarus gammarus) and brown crab (Cancer pagurus) than nearby rocky reefs. The mussel farm operations, however, contributed large amounts of living mussels and shell material to the seabed. Acoustic telemetry revealed that H.gammarus remained within the farm for between 2 and 283 days using both the farm anchors and areas of seabed dominated by fallen mussels for refuge. In contrast, C. pagurus movements showed no affinity to either the farm infrastructure or benthic habitat under the farm. Stable isotope analysis indicated a high dietary niche overlap in C. pagurus and H. gammarus (67.8 and 84.6 %) between the mussel farm (mixed muddy sediment) and nearby rocky reef. Our mixed-methods suggest that the mussel farm augments structural complexity on the seabed providing refuge and similar feeding opportunities for lobster and crab as their typical habitat on rocky reefs. Longline mussel farms can deliver profound biodiversity-positive effects through biogenic augmentation of degraded habitat for commercial species and potential for co-benefits to local fisheries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Stamp
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering), University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| | - Simon J Pittman
- Oxford Seascape Ecology Lab, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QY, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Luke A Holmes
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering), University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Adam Rees
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering), University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| | - Benjamin J Ciotti
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering), University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| | - Harry Thatcher
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering), University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| | - Peter Davies
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering), University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| | - Alice Hall
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering), University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| | - Georgia Wells
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering), University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Anna Olczak
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering), University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Emma V Sheehan
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering), University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
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2
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Cook CN. Progress developing the concept of other effective area-based conservation measures. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2024; 38:e14106. [PMID: 37144483 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
In 2010, the introduction of other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) into international policy caused a paradigm shift in area-based conservation, which included consideration of areas outside formal protected areas and places where biodiversity conservation may not be a management objective for the site. Despite the importance of this shift for global conservation, conservation science and policy have been slow to engage with the concept of OECMs. As the world moves toward protecting 30% of the Earth by 2030, it is imperative to develop evidence-based guidance for how to identify effective conservation measures, especially tools to help evaluate and monitor the biodiversity outcomes associated with potential OECMs. To understand the current progress in developing the concept of OECMs, I evaluated the peer-reviewed literature to consolidate and synthesize current knowledge. I conducted a thematic analysis of papers to identify the types of challenges and opportunities being discussed and lessons from studies evaluating the effectiveness of OECMs. Only 105 studies mentioned OECMs, and those that did rarely move beyond superficial mention of OECMs as part of area-based conservation. Around one-half of studies listed potential risks or benefits of OECMs but none provided evidence these issues have materialized. Twenty-three studies attempted to identify potential OECMs, although specific case studies were rare. The 7 studies that evaluated existing OECMs were highly critical of how they had been implemented to date. Studies that evaluated conservation outcomes were extremely rare, and suggested effectiveness must be judged on a case-by-case basis. The current literature not only leaves many gaps in the science required to operationalize the concept of OECMs, but also often raises additional questions that need to be addressed. If these gaps are not filled by robust science, the promised benefits for biodiversity from OECMs may never be realized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly N Cook
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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3
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Carlucci R, Manea E, Ricci P, Cipriano G, Fanizza C, Maglietta R, Gissi E. Managing multiple pressures for cetaceans' conservation with an Ecosystem-Based Marine Spatial Planning approach. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 287:112240. [PMID: 33740744 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Despite the recognized important ecological role that cetaceans play in the marine environment, their protection is still scarcely enforced in the Mediterranean Sea even though this area is strongly threatened by local human pressures and climate change. The piecemeal of knowledge related to cetaceans' ecology and distribution in the basin undermines the capacity of addressing cetaceans' protection and identifying effective conservation strategies. In this study, an Ecosystem-Based Marine Spatial Planning (EB-MSP) approach is applied to assess human pressures on cetaceans and guide the designation of a conservation area in the Gulf of Taranto, Northern Ionian Sea (Central-eastern Mediterranean Sea). The Gulf of Taranto hosts different cetacean species that accomplish important phases of their life in the area. Despite this fact, the gulf does not fall within any area-based management tools (ABMTs) for cetacean conservation. We pin down the Gulf of Taranto being eligible for the designation of diverse ABMTs for conservation, both legally and non-legally binding. Through a risk-based approach, this study explores the cause-effect relationships that link any human activities and pressures exerted in the study area to potential effects on cetaceans, by identifying major drivers of potential impacts. These were found to be underwater noise, marine litter, ship collision, and competition and disturbance on preys. We draw some recommendations based on different sources of available knowledge produced so far in the area (i.e., empirical evidence, scientific and grey literature, and expert judgement) to boost cetaceans' conservation. Finally, we stress the need of sectoral coordination for the management of human activities by applying an EB-MSP approach and valuing the establishment of an ABMT in the Gulf of Taranto.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Carlucci
- Department of Biology, University of Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy; CoNISMa, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Manea
- Institute of Marine Sciences, National Research Council, ISMAR-CNR, Arsenale, Tesa 104, Castello 2737/F, 30122, Venice, Italy.
| | - Pasquale Ricci
- Department of Biology, University of Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy; CoNISMa, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Cipriano
- Department of Biology, University of Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy; CoNISMa, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196, Rome, Italy
| | - Carmelo Fanizza
- Jonian Dolphin Conservation, Viale Virgilio 102, 74121, Taranto, Italy
| | - Rosalia Maglietta
- Institute of Intelligent Industrial Systems and Technologies for Advanced Manufacturing, National Research Council, Via Amendola 122 D/O, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Elena Gissi
- Institute of Marine Sciences, National Research Council, ISMAR-CNR, Arsenale, Tesa 104, Castello 2737/F, 30122, Venice, Italy; University Iuav of Venice, Tolentini, Santa Croce 191, 30135, Venice, Italy
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4
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Ecosystem-Based MSP for Enhanced Fisheries Sustainability: An Example from the Northern Adriatic (Chioggia—Venice and Rovigo, Italy). SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13031211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Human pressures on marine ecosystems significantly increased during last decades. Among the intense anthropic activities, industrial fisheries have caused the alteration of habitats, the reduction of biodiversity and the main fish stocks. The aim of this research, carried out in the Adriatic Sea, was to test a repeatable Marine Spatial Planning framework aimed at enhancing fisheries sustainability through the application of Decision Support Tools and the composition of a catalog of possible measures. The use of these tools proved very useful to identify possible criticalities and facilitate an effective exchange with fisheries stakeholders, local authorities, and fishermen, whose involvement was an indispensable step in the process. Tool-based analyses allowed to assess the spatial footprint of a range of anthropogenic pressures from human activities (e.g., fisheries, maritime traffic, and aquaculture). Within this multi-pressure scenario, special attention was paid to fishing-related disturbances and potential conflicts across different fishing métier and with other sectors. Specifically, results highlighted the spatial features of the major fishing pressures (e.g., abrasion from trawling) affecting essential fish habitats, marine mammals and turtles in the study area. A portfolio of possible management measures is identified for the study area. It provides clear evidence that, in order to mitigate emerging conflicts and cumulative impacts, it is necessary to combine and integrate different types of measures: spatial measures modulated over time, monitoring and control, actions to fill knowledge gaps, concertation—involvement—co-management actions, improvement of governance systems, actions to support innovation in the sector, etc. Given the complex set of measures discussed, this work can provide a useful contribution to the management of fisheries both at local and regional level, fostering the transition to sustainable fisheries.
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Maxwell SL, Cazalis V, Dudley N, Hoffmann M, Rodrigues ASL, Stolton S, Visconti P, Woodley S, Kingston N, Lewis E, Maron M, Strassburg BBN, Wenger A, Jonas HD, Venter O, Watson JEM. Area-based conservation in the twenty-first century. Nature 2020; 586:217-227. [PMID: 33028996 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2773-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 210] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Humanity will soon define a new era for nature-one that seeks to transform decades of underwhelming responses to the global biodiversity crisis. Area-based conservation efforts, which include both protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, are likely to extend and diversify. However, persistent shortfalls in ecological representation and management effectiveness diminish the potential role of area-based conservation in stemming biodiversity loss. Here we show how the expansion of protected areas by national governments since 2010 has had limited success in increasing the coverage across different elements of biodiversity (ecoregions, 12,056 threatened species, 'Key Biodiversity Areas' and wilderness areas) and ecosystem services (productive fisheries, and carbon services on land and sea). To be more successful after 2020, area-based conservation must contribute more effectively to meeting global biodiversity goals-ranging from preventing extinctions to retaining the most-intact ecosystems-and must better collaborate with the many Indigenous peoples, community groups and private initiatives that are central to the successful conservation of biodiversity. The long-term success of area-based conservation requires parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity to secure adequate financing, plan for climate change and make biodiversity conservation a far stronger part of land, water and sea management policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean L Maxwell
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Victor Cazalis
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, Montpellier, France
| | - Nigel Dudley
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.,Equilibrium Research, Bristol, UK
| | - Michael Hoffmann
- Conservation and Policy, Zoological Society of London, London, UK
| | - Ana S L Rodrigues
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Piero Visconti
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, UK.,Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, University College London, London, UK.,International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria
| | - Stephen Woodley
- World Commission on Protected Areas, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Gland, Switzerland
| | - Naomi Kingston
- UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), Cambridge, UK
| | - Edward Lewis
- UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), Cambridge, UK
| | - Martine Maron
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Bernardo B N Strassburg
- Rio Conservation and Sustainability Science Centre, Department of Geography and the Environment, Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,International Institute for Sustainability, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Programa de Pós Graduacão em Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Amelia Wenger
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.,Global Marine Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, New York, NY, USA
| | - Harry D Jonas
- World Commission on Protected Areas, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Gland, Switzerland.,Future Law, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
| | - Oscar Venter
- Ecosystem Science and Management, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
| | - James E M Watson
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.,Global Conservation Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, New York, NY, USA
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6
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Manea E, Bianchelli S, Fanelli E, Danovaro R, Gissi E. Towards an Ecosystem-Based Marine Spatial Planning in the deep Mediterranean Sea. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 715:136884. [PMID: 32018103 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2019] [Revised: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The deep sea covers about 79% of the Mediterranean basin, including habitats potentially able to deliver multiple ecosystem services and numerous resources of high economic value. Thus, the deep Mediterranean Sea represents an important frontier for marine resources exploitation, which is embedded within the European Blue Growth Strategy goals and agendas. The deep sea is crucial for the ecological functioning of the entire basin. For this reason, the deep Mediterranean deserves protection from the potential cumulative impacts derived from existent and developing human activities. Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) has been identified as key instrument for spatially allocating maritime uses in the sea space avoiding spatial conflicts between activities, and between activities and the environment. Indeed, MSP incorporates the ecosystem-based approach (EB-MSP) to balance both socio-economic and environmental objectives, in line with the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Despite MSP is under implementation in Europe, the Directive is not applied yet for the managing and monitoring of the environmental status of the deep sea. In the Mediterranean, deep areas fall both in internal and territorial waters, and in High Seas, and its management framework turns out to be complicated. Moreover, a certain level of cumulative impacts in the deep Mediterranean has been already identified and likely underestimated because of paucity of knowledge related with deep-sea ecosystems. Thus, the implementation of scientific knowledge and the establishment of a sustainable management regime of deep-sea resources and space are urgent. This study aims at reflecting on the best available ecological knowledge on the deep Mediterranean to incorporate conservation objectives in EB-MSP. We propose a framework to include key ecological principles in the relevant phases of any EB-MSP processes taking in consideration existing socio-economic and conservation scenarios in the region. We add the uncertainty principle to reflect on the still unexplored and missing knowledge related to the deep Mediterranean. Here, we resume some guidelines to overcome limits and bottlenecks while ensuring protection of deep-sea ecosystems and resources in the Mediterranean Sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Manea
- Department of Architecture and Arts, University Iuav of Venice, Tolentini, Santa Croce 191, 30135 Venice, Italy.
| | - S Bianchelli
- Department of Environmental and Life Science, Polytechnique University of Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - E Fanelli
- Department of Environmental and Life Science, Polytechnique University of Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - R Danovaro
- Department of Environmental and Life Science, Polytechnique University of Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy
| | - E Gissi
- Department of Architecture and Arts, University Iuav of Venice, Tolentini, Santa Croce 191, 30135 Venice, Italy
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