Kernel Density Analysis and Mapping of Ecosystem Functions in the NAFO Regulatory Area

In support of the 2021/2022 NAFO review of the closed areas to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) in the NAFO Regulatory Area, previously established kernel density estimation (KDE) methods were applied to four important ecological functions provided by benthic communities: A) Bioturbation; B) Nutrient cycling; C) Habitat provision; and D) Functional diversity (FRic), in order to evaluate significant adverse impacts of NAFO bottom-contact fishing on vulnerable marine ecosystems against the wider benthic contributions to those functions. Fish and invertebrate species recorded in the EU and Canadian surveys from 2011-2019 were classified a priori as contributing to each of bioturbation, nutrient cycling and habitat provision functions, using literature references. The resultant catch biomass data for each function were examined using K-S statistics and cumulative biomass distribution plots to determine whether data from the different surveys could be combined. With few exceptions the surveys were analyzed separately and the KDE polygons overlain a posteriori to produce combined polygon areas for each function. A suite of species were important contributors to the biomass of catches used to delineate each of the KDE polygons. For bioturbation, the sea cucumber Cucumaria frondosa and sea pens, both considered surficial modifiers, contributed most to the biomass. Nutrient cycling and habitat provision functions were delineated by catches where sponges dominated the biomass. Details of the analyses and the species that contributed to the delineation of the polygons are provided. Functional diversity was not assessed as information needed on a wide variety of traits and modalities was not completed. However published data from a survey in 2007 of Division 3M was used to run the KDE analyses with equivocal results. The KDE polygons generated matched published maps of FRic created using the same data and interpolated using random forest modeling. However the data were not sufficiently aggregated to allow for a clear KDE threshold to be determined. All other KDE analyses performed well and showed good congruence to the published maps of their corresponding functions.Versión del editor

Deep-sea: Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems in the North Atlantic Ocean: NEREIDA & ECOVUL/ARPA projects

Charla presentada en la DG Mare. European Commission. Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisherie

New preliminary data on VME encounters in NAFO Regulatory Area (Divs. 3MNO) from EU;EU Spain and Portugal Groundfish Surveys (2021) and Canadian surveys (2020 Fall).

During the 14th NAFO Working Group on Ecosystem Science and Assessment (WGESA) virtual meeting new preliminary data on deep-water corals and sponges were presented from the 2021 EU; EU-Spain and Portugal and Canadian bottom trawl groundfish surveys. The data was made available to the NAFO WGESA to improve mapping of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem (VME) indicator species in the NAFO Regulatory Area (Divs. 3LMNO). During the 6th meeting of the NAFO Scientific Council WGESA, new quantitative spatial analyses were applied for corals and sponges for all the available data within the NAFO Regulatory Area (NAFO, 2013). Outcomes from those analyses produced the following thresholds for VME indicator species: 75 kg per tow for sponges, 0.6 kg per tow for large gorgonians, 0.15 kg per tow for small gorgonians, and 1.4 kg per tow for sea pens. Based on these thresholds, deep-water coral and sponge catches were identified and mapped, and overlaid with the current closed areas and VME polygons. New thresholds and VME polygons were presented at the 12th WGESA meeting using additional data since 2013 (NAFO, 2020). These are: 100 kg per tow for sponges, 0.6 kg per tow for large gorgonians, 0.2 kg per tow for small gorgonians, 1.3 kg per tow for sea pens, 0.35 for Boltenia sea squirts, 0.2 for bryozoans and 0.4 for black corals. Therefore, VME polygons illustrated on the figures below are the modified ones, accepted by SC.Versión del edito

Information on activities other than fishing (offshore oil and gas) in the NAFO Convention Area: Implications for the development of the Ecosystem Summary Sheets (Divisions 3LNO and 3M)

Updated available information on activities other than fishing in the NAFO Convention Area - with focus on oil and gas - was collected and summarized from publicly available data sources (e.g. websites and project reports). This information is relevant not only to produce advice on Commission Request #14, but also to the development of the ecosystem summary sheets for Divisions 3LNO and 3M (Commission Request #15). In general, data on geographical location of oil and gas activities is available (including spatial location and technical details of a development project in the Flemish Pass), but information on the adverse impacts of such activities (e.g. routine operations, accidental events, unauthorized discharges, exploratory drilling on VME closed areas, etc.), as well as mitigation measures, is scarce or difficult to obtain. Based on the available information, it is observed that offshore oil and gas activities in NAFO Divs. 3LNM increased in recent years, including drilling activities on NAFO VME closed areas (Areas 2 and 10). Moreover, a number of different types of “incidents” have occurred during the period 2015-2020 (e.g. the Hibernia oil spill in 2019, a transboundary incident, in which the oil was extended into the NAFO Regulatory Area).European Union’s Horizon 2020, No 678760 (ATLAS).Postprint

New preliminary data on VME encounters in NAFO Regulatory Area (Div. 3M) from EU-Spain and Portugal Groundfish Surveys (2020) and Canadian surveys

During the 13th NAFO Working Group on Ecosystem Science and Assessment (WGESA) virtual meeting new preliminary data on deep-water corals and sponges were presented from the 2020 EU-Spain and Portugal and Canadian bottom trawl groundfish surveys. The data was made available to the NAFO WGESA to improve mapping of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem (VME) species in the NAFO Regulatory Area (Divs. 3LMNO). During the 6th meeting of the NAFO Scientific Council WGESA, new quantitative spatial analyses were applied for corals and sponges for all the available data within the NAFO Regulatory Area (NAFO SCS, 2013). Outcomes from those analyses produced the following thresholds for VME species groups: 75 kg per tow for sponges, 0.6 kg per tow for large gorgonians, 0.15 kg per tow for small gorgonians, and 1.4 kg per tow for sea pens. Based on these thresholds deep-water coral and sponge data were identified and mapped, overlaid with the current closed areas, polygons for kernel density of sea pens and modified kernel density polygons for sponge grounds and large gorgonian VMEs. New thresholds and VME polygons were presented at the 12th WGESA meeting using additional data since 2013. These are: 100 kg per tow for sponges, 0.6 kg per tow for large gorgonians, 0.2 kg per tow for small gorgonians, 1.3 kg per tow for sea pens, and 0.35 for Boltenia sea squirts. Therefore, polygons illustrated on the figures below are the modified ones, accepted by SC.Versión del editor