Survey of deep-dwelling red coral (Corallium rubrum) populations at Cap de Creus (NW Mediterranean)

Rossi, Sergio; Tsounis, Georgios; Orejas, Covadonga; Padrón, Tirma; Gili, Josep María; Bramanti, Lorenzo; Teixidó, Núria; Gutt, Julian

doi:10.1007/s00227-008-0947-6

Cited by 107 publications

(144 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…The list of the organisms struck is long and includes the red coral, a species of EU interest (Annex V of the European Union Habitats Directive) that can constitute facies with very high densities up to a depth of about 120-150 m (Rossi et al 2008). In addition, the long history of commercial exploitation of this species, coupled with its sensitivity to environmental stresses and its slow growth rate (Cattaneo-Vietti & Bavestrello 2010;Tsounis et al 2010), has induced preoccupation about its fate (Bruckner 2009(Bruckner , 2014Bussoletti et al 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The red coral populations of the gulfs of Naples and Salerno: human impact and deep mass mortalities

Bavestrello

Canese

et al. 2014

Italian Journal of Zoology

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The existence of deep red coral (Corallium rubrum) banks in the gulfs of Naples and Salerno (South Tyrrhenian Sea, Mediterranean Sea) is well known in historical records due to the heavy coral harvesting that occurred during the 19th and 20th centuries, by both trawling gears and scuba diving. ) or the absence of coral were recorded in all other sites of the Gulf of Naples (including all historical re-visited banks), and a variable percentage of dead colonies was observed. This evidence suggests a huge state of stress likely favoured by the hydrodynamic conditions in the Gulf, enhancing water pollution and sedimentation rate. Finally, the documented high fishing pressure plays a major role in the hard-bottom communities' degradation. A recent mass mortality episode was also recorded along the Amalfi coast, around Li Galli Islands (Gulf of Salerno), at a depth range between 80 and 100 m, where the mortality affected 80% of the largest colonies, estimated to be around 70 years old. Several possible reasons for this mortality have been hypothesised, such as the formation of local down-welling currents inducing an unusual drop of the thermocline, or sudden warm water emissions (sulphur springs) in an area characterised by important volcanic activities, or local landslides generating turbidity currents along the steep slopes.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The red coral populations of the gulfs of Naples and Salerno: human impact and deep mass mortalities

Bavestrello

Canese

et al. 2014

Italian Journal of Zoology

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“…Imaging methods allowed a much larger amount of information to be processed in the time available, and also permitted the quantification of some key landscape species (epibenthic organisms). Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) can be used for a variety of purposes (Orange et al, 2002, Parry et al 2003), but they have proven to be very efficient for studying biocenosis and for quantifying the distribution, structure, abundance and health status of benthic organisms (Fossa et al 2002, Ninio et al 2003, Mortensen and Buhl-Mortensen 2004, Kendall et al 2005, Rossi et al 2008. The benthic cartography presented in this paper includes information starting with mediolittoral environments (0 m depth) down to a depth of 60 m in the circalittoral environment, and provides data for the distribution of the main benthic habitats found in the area.…”

Section: The Sampling Effortmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The species can be recognized and quantified (patch size, distance between patches, species density or plant/animal size) or semi-quantified (% cover) in the ROV transects (e.g. Rossi et al, 2008, Gori et al, 2011.…”

Section: The Bionomic Mapmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although the ROV image sampling could never be as precise as other studies based on SCUBA diving sampling designs (Ballesteros 1990, Ballesteros 1991, Virgilio et al 2006), video image analysis has been successfully used to describe underwater communities (Ninio et al, 2003, Jonsson et al 2004, Stone 2006. Apart from the wider application of the data, image analysis is a very useful tool for: a) describing the health status of benthic communities, b) observing whether they have been disturbed by human actions (Koslow et al 2001, Stone 2006, Rossi et al 2008, and c) documenting the present status of a particular region with images.…”

Section: Benthic Communities: Distribution and Conditionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At the tip of the Cap de Creus, below the Maça d'Oros Island, coralligenous communities go down deeper than 60 m in an east-southeast direction (Rossi et al 2008), forming one of the most beautiful and valuable locations in the entire area. However, the natural limits of the park were originally taken by drawing 2 lines parallel to the coast in the northern and southern part of the cape up to the outer terrestrial part of the Maça d'Oros Island (Figure 3, yellow lines).…”

Section: Benthic Communities: Distribution and Conditionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Sardá¹,

Rossi²,

Martí³

et al. 2012

Sci. Mar.

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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.

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Illegal ingegno fishery and conservation of deep red coral banks in the Sicily Channel (Mediterranean Sea)

Cattaneo‐Vietti

Bavestrello

et al. 2017

Aquatic Conservation

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1. Recent ROV surveys conducted on the Ragusa bank in the Sicily Channel (Mediterranean Sea) documented illegal and continuous use of the 'ingegno' gear for red coral fishing. 2. Three lost gears were recorded showing different levels of epibiosis thus supporting multiannual exploitation of the bank. 3. The red coral population of the Ragusa bank showed a typical 'forest-like' configuration with upright, medium-sized colonies similar to those of other commercially exploited deep Mediterranean banks.4. The direct negative effect of this trawling gear was evident from numerous rocky boulders completely enveloped by lost nets and occasionally turned over. Red coral fragments as well as fragments of 'ingegno' nets were observed in high abundance on the sea floor. This evidence suggests that this gear is highly destructive even on rough sea floors, contrary to the traditional view, which is that it has a more random impact on rough rocky bottoms. 5. The estimated coral uptake of 'ingegno' is 45% of the total coral biomass, while the estimated coral loss, in terms of fragments, is 9%, demonstrating the high impact of this gear.6. The study highlighted the infringement of the red coral fishing ban by trawling gears as well as a lack of effective policing. The strengthening of controls on landings at nearby harbours, and education programmes for the local maritime communities are among the management actions proposed to protect these surviving red coral populations from the ongoing illegal fishing activity.

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Survey of deep-dwelling red coral (Corallium rubrum) populations at Cap de Creus (NW Mediterranean)

Cited by 107 publications

References 54 publications

The red coral populations of the gulfs of Naples and Salerno: human impact and deep mass mortalities

The red coral populations of the gulfs of Naples and Salerno: human impact and deep mass mortalities

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

Illegal ingegno fishery and conservation of deep red coral banks in the Sicily Channel (Mediterranean Sea)

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