Valutazione dell’impatto del settore della pesca sull’ecosistema marino - Indicatori ecosistemici (sezione V) Sub-area Geografica (GSA) 16 – Stretto di Sicilia Anno 2016

Il Programma Nazionale Italiano 2014-2016 di Raccolta Dati nel settore della pesca prevede, inter alia, la stima di cinque indicatori dell’impatto della pesca nell’ecosistema marino, in accordo con quanto riportato nell’appendice XIII della Decisione della Commissione del 6 novembre 200

smartR: An r package for spatial modelling of fisheries and scenario simulation of management strategies

Abstract Overfishing or exploitation patterns with high juvenile mortalities often negatively impact demersal fish stocks. Meanwhile, the increased availability and diffusion of georeferenced information is propelling a revolution of marine spatial planning. A spatial‐explicit approach to the management of fishing effort should protect the Essential Fish Habitats and minimize the impact of trawlers on areas where juveniles of commercial species concentrate. The smartR package is a data‐driven model that implements the Spatially explicit bio‐economic Model for Assessing and managing demeRsal Trawl fisheries to edit and format the raw data; construct and maintain coherent datasets; to numerically and visually inspect the generated metadata; to simulate management scenarios and forecast the possible effects in terms of resources status and economic performances of the fleets. Explicit inclusion of the spatial dimension is essential to improve the understanding of the fishery system, and to enhance the ability of management plans to improve stocks statuses

Ca2+-activated K+ channels modulate microglia affecting motor neuron survivalin hSOD1G93A mice

Recent studies described a critical role for microglia in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), where these CNS-resident immune cells participate in the establishment of an inflammatory microenvironment that contributes to motor neuron degeneration. Understanding the mechanisms leading to microglia activation in ALS could help to identify specific molecular pathways which could be targeted to reduce or delay motor neuron degeneration and muscle paralysis in patients. The intermediate-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel KCa3.1 has been reported to modulate the "pro-inflammatory" phenotype of microglia in different pathological conditions. We here investigated the effects of blocking KCa3.1 activity in the hSOD1G93AALS mouse model, which recapitulates many features of the human disease. We report that treatment of hSOD1G93A mice with a selective KCa3.1 inhibitor, 1-[(2-chlorophenyl)diphenylmethyl]-1H-pyrazole (TRAM-34), attenuates the "pro-inflammatory" phenotype of microglia in the spinal cord, reduces motor neuron death, delays onset of muscle weakness, and increases survival. Specifically, inhibition of KCa3.1 channels slowed muscle denervation, decreased the expression of the fetal acetylcholine receptor γ subunit and reduced neuromuscular junction damage. Taken together, these results demonstrate a key role for KCa3.1 in driving a pro-inflammatory microglia phenotype in ALS

Application of the MESMA framework. Case study : Strait of Sicily

This deliverable D2.2 comprises a manual containing the protocol for the application of the generic framework to the MESMA case studies. The generic framework (deliverable D2.1) is the central document for the subsequent work packages of MESMA. It provides a best practice guide for monitoring and evaluation of Spatially Managed Areas (SMA) in seven distinctive and clearly outlined steps which comprise 1) setting the context, 2) collation of existing information and mapping, 3) setting of targets, 4) risk analysis and state assessment, 5) assessment of findings against operational objectives, 6) evaluation of the effectiveness of management measures and 7) adaptation of the current management regime based on the outcome of the assessments (for details see D2.1). Although the framework has been developed as a generic tool for use by a range of people involved in evaluating SMAs, the first version of the manual was specifically tailored (in certain areas) for use by the case studies (WP3 of MESMA). It was designed to be an aid to the case studies applying the framework. Thus, feedback on the performance of the framework and manual is guiding the production of a revised framework and manual (D2.3) to be delivered in November 2012. The revised versions will be made available to the wider scientific community and management bodies. This document is the third version of the original document D2.2. As outlined in more detail in D2.1, we have identified several links between the WP2 framework on the one hand and a structured governance analysis (WP6) on the other. These links are indicated in the respective framework steps. The MESMA generic framework and manual does not accommodate for a comprehensivec governance analysis. Therefore the MESMA case study research has two streams – the MESMA framework and the governance research analysis. Governance issues in all MESMA case studies will be analysed through the WP6 Governance Analytical Structure. Further guidance on governance research has been developed and is available in a separate document entitled ‘Guidelines for MESMA WP6 Governance Research’. The WP6 governance research essentially aims to address the following questions: 1) What are the governance approaches and incentives being adopted in a given existing initiative with spatial elements, and how effective are the incentives and governance approaches in that particular context in achieving a particular priority objective? 2) What are the potential incentives and governance approaches that could be implemented to improve effectiveness in achieving the specific objective of an existing initiative and addressing related conflicts? 3) How do wider issues, such as top-down/bottom-up balance, inter-sectoral integration and power, cross-border issues, justice and different levels of knowledge, affect the effectiveness of existing initiatives? This ‘two stream’ approach will provide a clear way forward for combining the MESMA framework and governance research to the case studies in an integrated and coherent manner. As a result, in depth governance analysis covered by the governance work package is outlined briefly in the introduction of each framework step together with specific actions which will be largely carried out under the governance research. Further details on the WP6 governance analysis and on how the two streams of work will be linked from a WP6 governance perspective can be found in the document ‘Guidelines for MESMA WP6 Governance Research’, and Appendix 1 of this document shows a visualisation of the linkages between the two streams of work. It should be noted that in order to be able to link and integrate WP2 and WP6 research, both of the following conditions should be met: 1) Both WP2 and WP6 research are about analysing an existing initiative. Such an initiative may be an integrated marine spatial plan or part of the integrated plan; or if there is no integrated marine spatial plan in place, an existing initiative with spatial elements (e.g. sectoral management plan with spatial restrictions) which may be linked or offer valuable lessons to the future development of an integrated marine spatial plan. 2) WP2 and WP6 research should focus on the same priority objective for at least one run of the WP2 framework. The practical implementation of the framework is also linked to specific tools which will be identified and developed in WP4 and the data handling standards specified in WP5. A revised version of the manual should then interlink the actions underneath each framework step with a set of practical tools comprising technical and conceptual tools.peer-reviewe

Spatial analysis of demersal food webs through integration of eDNA metabarcoding with fishing activities

The evaluation of the status of marine communities, and especially the monitoring of those heavily exploited by fisheries, is a key, challenging task in marine sciences. Fishing activities are a major source of disruption to marine food webs, both directly, by selectively removing components at specific trophic levels (TL), and indirectly, by altering habitats and production cycles. Food web analysis can be very useful in the context of an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries, but food web reconstructions demand large and expensive data sets, which are typically available only for a small fraction of marine ecosystems. Recently, new technologies have been developed to easily, quickly and cost-effectively collect environmental DNA (eDNA) during fishing activities. By generating large, multi-marker metabarcoding data from eDNA samples obtained from commercial trawlers, it is possible to produce exhaustive taxonomic inventories for the exploited ecosystems, which are suitable for food-web reconstructions. Here, we integrate and re-analyse the data of a recent study in which the α diversity was investigated using the eDNA opportunistically collected during fishing operations. Indeed, we collect highly resolved information on species feeding relationships to reconstruct the food webs at different sites in the Strait of Sicily (Mediterranean Sea) from eDNA and catch data. After observing that the trophic networks obtained from eDNA metabarcoding data are more consistent with the available knowledge, a set of food web indicators (species richness, number of links, direct connectance and generality) is computed and analysed to unravel differences in food webs structure through different areas (spatial variations). Species richness, number of links and generality (positively) and direct connectance (negatively) are correlated with increasing distance from the coast and fishing effort intensity. The combined effects of environmental gradients and fishing effort on food web structure at different study sites are then examined and modelled. Taken together, these findings indicate the suitability of eDNA metabarcoding to assist and food web analysis, obtain several food web-related ecological indicators, and tease out the effect of fishing intensity from the environmental gradients of marine ecosystems

Spatial distribution of demersal fishery resources, environmental factors and fishing activities in GSA 15 (Malta Island)

The FAO–MedSudMed Regional Project has promoted research on the improvement of knowledge on fishery ecosystems, with a view to the sustainable management of living marine resources in the central Mediterranean (Straits of Sicily). A pilot study focused on the waters around the Maltese Islands (GSA 15), with the aim of providing a comprehensive overview of the spatial distribution of the different life stages of exploitable demersal fishes in relation to the type and distribution of fishing, as well as to the oceanographic factors characteristic of the area of study. Critical zones for their role in the ecology of the main demersal fishery target species were investigated using species abundance data disaggregated by life stage. Spatial analysis and the application of GIS techniques allowed the identification of preferred habitats (e.g. nursery, feeding and spawning areas) for Merluccius merluccius, Mullus barbatus, Parapenaeus longirostris, Raja clavata and Raja miraletus. The impact of fishing on these species was assessed, particularly in terms of fish assemblages. The transport paths of early life stages were also hypothesized on the basis of oceanographic factors typical of the area. The results revealed that the spatial distribution of the main fishery resources overlaps the limits of the current GSAs. The analysis of oceanographic factors showed that some fishery resources are sustained by young individuals transported from adjacent GSAs. The results also demonstrated that the spatial distribution of the main demersal fishery resources in the Mediterranean GSA 15 straddle other GSAs, in particular as concerns nursery and spawning areas, indicating that some fishery resources are shared. This implies that harmonized fishery management should be applied over a larger area than is implied by the GSA concept. Finally, the study showed how data provided by different methods could be integrated to enhance the available scientific information in a data-limited situation.peer-reviewe