Report of the Workshop to Review and Advise on EBSA Proposed Areas (WKEBSA)

• Main Author: ICES (11907872)
• Format: Report
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: Fisheries and aquaculture; Pressures; impacts; conservation; and management; WKEBSA; CM 2013/ACOM; EBSA; ecologically or biologically significant marine areas; Hatton-Rockall Basin; Mid-Atlantic Ridge; Nunes; Reykjanes; Iceland
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.19282412.v1

WKEBSA reviewed the ecological evidence supporting the ten proposed EBSAs from the OSPAR/NEAFC/CBD Workshop of September 2011, as presented in the profor-mas attached as Annexes to that Report. The review looked primarily at the refer-ences cited in the proformas, but often augmented those references with other publications and data sources. In nine of the ten proposed EBSAs,WKEBSA came to different conclusions than were contained in the OSPAR/NEAFC/CBC Workshop, with regard to the rankings on the CBD EBSA criteria. Specifically: WKEBSA made the following conclusions and proposals for a way forward: 1 – Reykjanes Ridge south of Iceland EEZ: Much area in the proposed EBSA does not meet any of the EBSA criteria. A more restricted area down the spine of the mid-Atlantic Ridge and defined by depth ranges of deep-water coral and sponge concen-trations does meet several EBSA criteria and could go forward at this time. 2 – Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone and Sub-Polar Frontal Zone of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge: Some area in the proposed EBSA does not meet any of the EBSA criteria. A complex combination of the area down the spine of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the benthic area aligned with and close to the main fractures, and the water column in which the Sub-Polar Front is found throughout the year, does meet several EBSA criteria and could go forward at this time. 3 – Mid-Atlantic Ridge north of the Azores: Much area in the proposed EBSA does not meet any of the EBSA criteria. A more restricted area down the spine of the mid-Atlantic Ridge and defined by depth ranges of deep-water coral and sponge concen-trations does meet several EBSA criteria and could go forward at this time. 4.The Hatton and Rockall Banks and Hatton- Rockall Basin: Much area in the pro-posed EBSA does not meet any of the EBSA criteria. A more restricted area down to approximately 1500-1800 m depth but excluding the abyssal plain does meet several EBSA criteria and could go forward at this time. 5.Around Pedro Nunes and Hugo de Lacerda Seamounts: The proposed ...