Cold-water corals landed by bottom longline fisheries in the Azores (north-eastern Atlantic)

Sampaio, Íris; Braga-Henriques, Andreia; Pham, Christopher K.; Ocaña, Óscar; Matos, V. de; Morato, Telmo; Porteiro, Filipe M.

doi:10.1017/s0025315412000045

Cited by 72 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…1568/2005Probert et al, 2007). Nonetheless, a number of corals are still vulnerable to the longline fishing (Sampaio et al, 2012; this study), although the true impact of this gear has not yet been assessed.…”

Section: Conservation Issuesmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…arborescent, bottlebrush, lyriform, reticulate). A recent 4-month survey of the by-catch from commercial longline fishery based at Horta revealed that the most frequently landed taxa were Leiopathes spp., E. dabneyi and Dendrophyllia sp., all possessing three-dimensional branched shapes (Sampaio et al, 2012). In the same survey, solitary scleractinians were all collected as secondary bycatch.…”

Section: Species Compositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Diversity, distribution and spatial structure of the cold-water coral fauna of the Azores (NE Atlantic)

et al. 2013

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Cold-water corals are widely considered as important structural components of benthic habitats, potentially enhancing local abundance in a variety of fish and invertebrate species. Yet, current knowledge of the taxonomic diversity and distribution patterns of these vulnerable, slow-growing organisms is scarce and fragmented, limiting the effectiveness of spatial management and conservation measures. We have conducted an exhaustive compilation of records of alcyonaceans, antipatharians, scleractinians and stylasterids available through present day to assess the diversity, distribution and spatial structure of coral assemblages in the Azores exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The resulting database comprises 2501 entries concerning historical oceanographic expeditions and other published sources, as well as unpublished data from bottom longline by-catch. Our taxonomic inventory appears to be fairly complete for the explored habitats, accounting for 164 species (79 alcyonaceans, 58 scleractinians, 18 antipatharians and 9 stylasterids), nine of which were documented for the first time. The Azores EEZ harbours a mixed coral fauna with several zoogeographic origins, showing the closest affinity with the Lusitanian–Mediterranean region. Very few apparent endemics were found (14%), and only in part supported by consistent sampling. Coral diversity is particularly high between 300 and 900 m depths, in areas recognized as traditional fishing grounds or exploitable fish habitat within the 100-mile limit of the EEZ. The composition of coral assemblages shows significant geographical structure among longitudinal sections of the study area at comparable depths (100–1500 m). There is no evidence of a possible role of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge or latitudinal effects underlying this pattern, which suggests that it may instead reflect assemblage variability among features. Stronger changes in species composition were found along the bathymetric gradient. Notwithstanding the mix of partially overlapping steno- and eurybathic species that characterize the vertical distribution of corals, there is a distinct transition from shallow (100–600 m) to intermediate (600–1000 m) depths. The analysis presented here constitutes a valuable contribution for efficient conservation policies of coral-associated vulnerable marine ecosystems and their sustainable use as fishing areas

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Section: Conservation Issuesmentioning

confidence: 85%

Section: Species Compositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversity, distribution and spatial structure of the cold-water coral fauna of the Azores (NE Atlantic)

et al. 2013

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“…Once removed, these colonial organisms will not return to their former structural and ecological significance within our lifetime. Disturbance and removal from bottom trawling is among the most significant threats to cold-water corals (Althaus et al 2009), and recent studies have demonstrated that other bottom-set fishing gears, such as longlines, can also significantly impact these communities in areas of intense fishing (Duran Muñoz et al 2011, Sampaio et al 2012 Probert et al 2007, Santos et al 2009). …”

Section: Management and Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The bycatch of bottom longline fisheries revealed that Leiopathes sp. are often damaged and captured during fisheries operations (Sampaio et al 2012), raising concerns on the extent of these impairments and their recovery potential.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variability in growth rates of long-lived black coral Leiopathes sp. from the Azores

Carreiro‐Silva¹,

Andrews²,

Braga-Henriques³

et al. 2013

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Five colonies of black coral Leiopathes sp. were collected as bycatch from depths of 293 to 366 m from the Condor, Açor, and Voador seamounts (Azores region). The colonies had axial diameters between 4.9 and 33.1 mm and heights between 43 and 175 cm. Their ages and radial growth rates were estimated using radiocarbon dating. Results indicated that the smallest and largest colonies had similar radial growth rates of 5 to 7 µm yr −1 , whereas the other 3 colonies had grown more rapidly by a factor of 3 to 5 at ~20 to 30 µm yr −1. Colony lifespan ranged between 265 ± 90 and 2320 ± 90 yr. Fine-scale sampling along a radial transect from the edge to the center of the 2320 yr old Leiopathes sp. revealed variable growth rates throughout the colony lifespan. Slower radial growth rates of ~4 to 5 µm yr −1 were recorded over the initial 1600 yr and the last 300 yr of its life span, and a period of more rapid growth (20 µm yr −1 ) over the intermediate 400 yr of its life. Variability in radial growth rates among colonies resulted in colony ages that were not linearly correlated to colony axis diameter or height. Our findings of great longevity and slow growth rates for Leiopathes sp. agree with other Leiopathes sp. age and growth studies, indicating that colony and population recovery from damage or removal may take centuries to millennia. KEY WORDS: Antipatharia · Cold-water corals · Deep-sea · Growth · Longevity · Radiocarbon · Northeast AtlanticResale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher OPEN PEN

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“…Bottom-contact fishing is a known stressor to deep-sea coral habitats and the likely source of pre-spill injury at reference sites. Bottom longlines in particular are recognized as a threat to gorgonian octocorals (Sampaio et al 2012). Monofilament line occurred in and around gorgonian colonies, with significantly more line and more interactions observed at reference sites (Kruskal-Wallis, p \ 0.01; ESM Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decline in condition of gorgonian octocorals on mesophotic reefs in the northern Gulf of Mexico: before and after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

Etnoyer¹,

Wickes²,

Silva

et al. 2015

Coral Reefs

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Hard-bottom 'mesophotic' reefs along the '40-fathom' (73 m) shelf edge in the northern Gulf of Mexico were investigated for potential effects of the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill from the Macondo well in April 2010. Alabama Alps Reef, Roughtongue Reef, and Yellowtail Reef were near the well, situated 60-88 m below floating oil discharged during the DWH spill for several weeks and subject to dispersant applications. In contrast, Coral Trees Reef and Madison Swanson South Reef were far from the DWH spill site and below the slick for less than a week or not at all, respectively. The reefs were surveyed by ROV in 2010, 2011, and 2014 and compared to similar surveys conducted one and two decades earlier.Large gorgonian octocorals were present at all sites in moderate abundance including Swiftia exserta, Hypnogorgia pendula, Thesea spp., and Placogorgia spp. The gorgonians were assessed for health and condition in a beforeafter-control-impact (BACI) research design using still images captured from ROV video transects. Injury was modeled as a categorical response to proximity and time using logistic regression. Condition of gorgonians at sites near Macondo well declined significantly post-spill. Before the spill, injury was observed for 4-9 % of large gorgonians. After the spill, injury was observed in 38-50 % of large gorgonians. Odds of injury for sites near Macondo were 10.8 times higher post-spill, but unchanged at far sites. The majority of marked injured colonies in 2011 declined further in condition by 2014. Marked healthy colonies generally remained healthy. Background stresses to corals, including fishing activity, fishing debris, and coral predation, were noted during surveys, but do not appear to account for the decline in condition at study sites near Macondo well.

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Cold-water corals landed by bottom longline fisheries in the Azores (north-eastern Atlantic)

Cited by 72 publications

References 47 publications

Diversity, distribution and spatial structure of the cold-water coral fauna of the Azores (NE Atlantic)

Diversity, distribution and spatial structure of the cold-water coral fauna of the Azores (NE Atlantic)

Variability in growth rates of long-lived black coral Leiopathes sp. from the Azores

Decline in condition of gorgonian octocorals on mesophotic reefs in the northern Gulf of Mexico: before and after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

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