Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems Dominated by Deep-Water Corals and Sponges in the NAFO Convention Area

Many species of deep-water corals and sponges are important structure forming species in deep-sea environments, however not all coral and sponges meet the criteria associated with vulnerability. Here we review the taxa living within the NAFO regulatory area (NRA) and provide literature supporting th...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fuller, S.D. (Susanna), Murillo, F.J. (Francisco Javier), Wareham, V. (Vonda), Kenchington, E. (Ellen)
Format: Report
Language:English
Published: Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo 2008
Subjects:
North Atlantic
Northwest Atlantic
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10508/769
Description
Summary:Many species of deep-water corals and sponges are important structure forming species in deep-sea environments, however not all coral and sponges meet the criteria associated with vulnerability. Here we review the taxa living within the NAFO regulatory area (NRA) and provide literature supporting their consideration as components of vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs). For the sponges, we present the first map of their location in the NRA, as determined from fisheries bycatch information.

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