New data on deep-water corals and sponges from Spanish/EU and Canadian bottom trawl groundfish surveys in the NAFO Regulatory Area (Divs. 3LMNO): 2008-2010 period

• Main Authors: Murillo, Francisco Javier, Wareham, Vonda, Sacau-Cuadrado, María del Mar, Román-Marcote, Esther, Durán-Muñoz, Pablo
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo; Pesquerías; North Atlantic; Northwest Atlantic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10508/926; http://hdl.handle.net/10261/327893

SC WG ON THE ECOSYSTEM APPROACH TO FISHERIES MANAGEMENT New data on deep-water corals and sponges are presented based on Spanish/EU and Canadian bottom trawl groundfish surveys for the period 2008-2010 in order to make these data available to the NAFO WGEAFM and improve the mapping of sensitive species in the NAFO Regulatory area (Divs. 3LMNO). “Significant” catches (according to the NAFO definition from groundfish surveys) of deep-water corals and sponges are provided and mapped together with the areas closed in 2010. Most of the significant catches of sponges (88%) are inside of the closed areas, meanwhile for corals the results are different according to the group considered. For large gorgonians the 40% are inside, for small gorgonians the 25% and for sea pens all the significant catches recorded are outside of the closed areas.