Red Coral Fishery at the Costa Brava (NW Mediterranean): Case Study of an Overharvested Precious Coral

Tsounis, Georgios; Rossi, Sergio; Gili, Josep María; Arntz, Wolf

doi:10.1007/s10021-007-9072-5

Cited by 80 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 25 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Some populations were only exposed to SCUBA diving, and 1 is completely protected and served as a baseline reference (Illa Encalladora). The sites are very similar in environmental features and are thus comparable (see also Tsounis et al 2007). Given that the study area is not known to have suffered from mass mortality events as detected at the French and Italian coast (Cupido et al 2009), the surveys were designed to determine the effects of direct human impact.…”

Section: Population Statementioning

confidence: 84%

Anthropogenic effects on reproductive effort and allocation of energy reserves in the Mediterranean octocoral Paramuricea clavata

Tsounis¹,

Martínez²,

Bramanti³

et al. 2012

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In order to better understand the sources, patterns and consequences of anthro pogenic effects on populations of the Mediterranean gorgonian Paramuricea clavata, we examined the proportion of injured colonies among populations exposed to a combination of anthropogenic disturbances (recreational cast fishing, commercial lobster pots, gill nets and SCUBA diving), as well as the physiological response of injured corals. Between 10 and 33% of the colonies in unprotected populations were partially colonized by epibionts, most likely following tissue injury, whereas only 4 to 10% of the populations in a marine protected area were affected. Populations that were simultaneously exposed to fishing as well as intensive SCUBA diving showed the highest proportion of colonization. Colonies with approximately 30 to 35% of epibiont coverage showed significantly lower numbers of gonads per polyp. Similarly, concentrations of lipids were lower in females with epibionts, thus indicating allocation of resources into recovery of injured tissue instead of reproduction. Furthermore, whereas unaffected colonies showed a uniform distribution of carbohydrates and proteins through apical branches to more central ones, colonies with epibionts had significantly lower protein concentrations in branches that are positioned 3 branching order levels closer to the stem. The results thus indicate a preference of apical growth in recovering colonies, via a different distribution of food within the colony. Reproductive success in surface-brooding corals growing on walls and overhangs might also be reduced by SCUBA bubbles from divers passing below, as bubbles efficiently remove eggs brooded on colony branches.

show abstract

Section: Population Statementioning

confidence: 84%

Anthropogenic effects on reproductive effort and allocation of energy reserves in the Mediterranean octocoral Paramuricea clavata

Tsounis¹,

Martínez²,

Bramanti³

et al. 2012

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Regulations that have been developed in the past 50 year have been based for the most part on general ecological studies that have characterized changes in population structure and have tried to integrate information on reproduction, growth, and survival into considerations of the fishery. Recently, Tsounis et al (2007) applied a Beverton-Holt fishery model to abundance, growth, and survival data and determined that yields could be enhanced dramatically were the age at harvest increased a minimum of 3-fold (11-33 years).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The use of red coral, Corallium rubrum, for jewelry dates back thousands of years, and organized harvesting in the Mediterranean is known for hundreds of years (Tsounis et al 2007). Regulations that have been developed in the past 50 year have been based for the most part on general ecological studies that have characterized changes in population structure and have tried to integrate information on reproduction, growth, and survival into considerations of the fishery.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An adaptive management approach to an octocoral fishery based on the Beverton-Holt model

Goffredo

Lasker

2008

Coral Reefs

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Coral reef species are frequently the focus of bio-prospecting, and when promising bioactive compounds are identified there is often a need for the development of responsible harvesting based on relatively limited data. The Caribbean gorgonian Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae has been harvested in the Bahamas for over a decade. Data on population age structure and growth rates in conjunction with harvest data provide an opportunity to compare fishery practices and outcomes to those suggested by a Beverton-Holt fishery model. The model suggests a minimum colony size limit of 7-9 years of age (21-28 cm height), which would allow each colony 2-4 years of reproduction prior to harvesting. The Beverton-Holt model assumes that colonies at or above the minimum size limit are completely removed. In the P. elisabethae fishery, colonies are partially clipped and can be repeatedly harvested. Linear growth of surviving colonies was up to 3 times that predicted for colonies that were not harvested and biomass increase was up to 9 times greater than that predicted for undisturbed colonies. The survival of harvested colonies and compensatory growth increases yield, and yields at sites that had previously been harvested were generally greater than predicted by the Beverton-Holt model. The model also assumes recruitment is independent of fishing intensity, but lower numbers of young colonies in the fished populations, compared to unfished populations, suggest possible negative effects of the harvest on reproduction. This suggests the need for longer intervals between harvests. Because it can be developed from data that can be collected at a single time, the Beverton-Holt model provides a rational starting point for regulating new fisheries where long-term characterizations of population dynamics are rarely available. However, an adaptive approach to the fishery requires the incorporation of reproductive data.

show abstract

“…This community plays a paramount role in Mediterranean biodiversity distribution (Ballesteros 2006) and, in view of the present results, the Cap de Creus Natural Park (especially the northern part) may be considered a special site for observing its different typologies along the Mediterranean Coast. Unfortunately, the intense over-harvesting of red coral in the study area (Tsounis et al 2007) prevents the formation of a mature coralligenous community clearly dominated by walls of red coral, as in other areas, where this precious coral is dominant and forms extensive patches (Virgilio et al 2006).…”

Section: Benthic Communities: Distribution and Conditionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Marine benthic cartography of the Cap de Creus (NE Catalan Coast, Mediterranean Sea)

Sardá¹,

Rossi²,

Martí³

et al. 2012

Sci. Mar.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

SUMMARY:The marine benthic cartography of the Cap de Creus and surrounding areas (NW Mediterranean Sea) was obtained by combining classical grabbing methods with more recent imaging methods based on a remotely operated vehicle. The goals of this particular survey can be summarized as follows: 1) to chart the benthic communities (and the area of each one); 2) to evaluate the benthic diversity of the areas; 3) to produce visual documentation of the distributions of the benthic organisms; 4) to identify human-induced pressures on the benthic environment; 5) to make recommendations for future management based on the visual assessment; and 6) to set up a new methodology for making large biocenosis maps that would help to manage marine protected and non-protected areas. The marine environment off the Alt Empordà County was shown to have a very rich diversity of benthic habitats. Twenty community categories were identified from videos and grabs. Though benthic habitats mostly located inside a marine protected area were assessed, man-made objects were seen in 10% of the analyzed minutes filmed. The study led to a comprehensive review of the main biotope systems of this coastal area, as well as their environmental condition, and this will be an essential element for their future management.Keywords: benthic cartography, ROV, marine protected areas, NE catalan coast. RESUMEN: Cartografía bentónica marina del Cabo de Creus (costa catalana NE, Mar Mediterráneo). -Se presenta una cartografía bentónica marina del Cabo de Creus y sus áreas adyacentes (NO del Mediterráneo). Esta cartografía ha sido obtenida combinando métodos clásicos de dragado con métodos basados en imágenes obtenidas mediante vehículos operados a control remoto (ROV). Los objetivos de este estudio pueden resumirse en: 1) efectuar un mapa de sus comunidades (y su extensión), 2) evaluar su diversidad de hábitats, 3) documentar visualmente la distribución de sus organismos, 4) identificar presiones humanas en el medio marino, 5) efectuar recomendaciones para su futura gestión, y 6) desarrollar una nueva metodología de generación de mapas que pueda servir en la gestión de áreas marinas protegidas y no protegidas. El ambiente estudiado se caracteriza por una alta diversidad de hábitats, una veintena fueron identificados. A pesar de estar trabajando principalmente en una zona protegida, en el 10% de los minutos de filmación se observaron objetos de procedencia humana. Este trabajo ha servido para evaluar los sistemas naturales presentes así como su estado de salud y se espera que los resultados obtenidos puedan ser usados para una futura gestión de esta zona costera.Palabras clave: cartografía bentónica, ROV, áreas marinas protegidas, NE costa catalana.

show abstract

Red Coral Fishery at the Costa Brava (NW Mediterranean): Case Study of an Overharvested Precious Coral

Cited by 80 publications

References 25 publications

Anthropogenic effects on reproductive effort and allocation of energy reserves in the Mediterranean octocoral Paramuricea clavata

Anthropogenic effects on reproductive effort and allocation of energy reserves in the Mediterranean octocoral Paramuricea clavata

An adaptive management approach to an octocoral fishery based on the Beverton-Holt model

Marine benthic cartography of the Cap de Creus (NE Catalan Coast, Mediterranean Sea)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About