The Salas y Gómez and Nazca ridges: A review of the importance, opportunities and challenges for protecting a global diversity hotspot on the high seas

The modeled distribution of corals and sponges surrounding the Salas y Gómez and Nazca ridges with implications for high seas conservation

“…An improved understanding of the spatial distribution of key taxa throughout the Salas y Gómez and Nazca ridges is necessary for the evidence-based conservation of the region. The suitability modeling in this study will inform ongoing efforts to identify and prioritize key conservation targets along the ridges (see Wagner et al, 2021), reinforcing the increasingly clear need to protect sensitive benthic fauna in the region from further exploitation and disturbance from anthropogenic sources. In addition to conservation planning, these models will also support future expedition planning, and will improve our understanding of the niche of cold-water corals and sponges throughout the region.…”

“…Anthropogenic impacts to deep-sea environments are increasing at an unprecedented rate and scale (reviewed in Ramirez-Llodra et al, 2011). Despite their remote offshore location, the Salas y Gómez and Nazca ridges are not immune to the risks posed by human activities, including commercial fishing, pollution, climate change, and potential seabed mining (reviewed by Wagner et al, 2021). Bottom fisheries are frequently cited as one of the most damaging activities for deep-water coral and sponge habitats (Watling & Norse, 1998;Pusceddu et al, 2014), given the indiscriminate and destructive nature of the trawls, lines, and other equipment used.…”

“…The Salas y Gómez and Nazca ridges are two adjacent seamount chains stretching more than 2,900 km off the coasts of Peru and Chile (Fig. 1) (reviewed in Wagner et al, 2021).…”

“…Like most marine biodiversity hotspots, the Salas y Gómez and Nazca ridges are threatened by a variety of ongoing or imminent anthropogenic disturbances, including commercial fishing, marine debris and plastic pollution, seabed mining, and climate change (reviewed in Wagner et al, 2021). Despite these threats and the clear biological value of the ridges, protecting their sensitive benthic communities from anthropogenic disturbance is a complex challenge.…”

“…Industrial fishing occurs in an estimated 48% of ABNJ, with fisheries pushing into deeper waters each year as stocks deplete in shallower waters (Visalli et al, 2020). Commercial fishing in waters surrounding the Salas y Gómez and Nazca ridges has been relatively limited historically (Wagner et al, 2021), providing a unique opportunity to protect this diverse region before it is irrevocably damaged. However, effecting strong protection in ABNJ is difficult due to the lack of clear legal mechanisms, competing interests, and lack of sufficient data in lesser-explored regions (Gjerde et al, 2021).…”