Environmental impacts of pot fishing

Date:
October 13, 2020
Source:
University of Plymouth
Summary:
The findings of new research go against previous thinking around
the damage caused by pot fishing to the seabed.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
The global pot fishing industry could be having a greater impact on
corals, sponges and other species found on the seabed than previously
thought, according to new research.


========================================================================== Scientists from the University of Plymouth (UK) attached video cameras
to pots used by crab and lobster fishermen off the south coast of England.

As the pots were lowered, and later recovered, they recorded any damage
caused to the rocky reefs on the seabed and various ecologically important species which call them home.

The resulting footage showed that of the 18 species observed, 14 suffered damage as the pots were hauled from the seabed.

This included certain species -- including pink sea fans, ross coral,
Dead Man's Fingers and boring sponges -- recognised as indicators of
general health in the marine environment.

The findings go against previous thinking around the damage caused by
pot fishing to the seabed, with research carried out until now regarding
its potential impact as minimal.



========================================================================== Writing in Marine Environmental Research, scientists say they must now be
taken into consideration by authorities and fishing communities, and that managers must balance ecology with social and economic considerations
to determine what level of impact is acceptable. This is especially
important where potting is occurring within MPAs.

Crustacean fisheries are a very valuable component of the UK fishing
industry and are particularly important to coastal communities, with
1,342 vessels fishing with pots and traps in 2016 and the majority of
them measuring under 10m and operating in inshore waters.

In 2017, total shellfish landings accounted for 38% of all those
by UK vessels, with 34,100 tonnes of crab and lobster (worth almost -L-100million) landed into the UK. Globally, the industry is present in
48 countries which also have multi-use MPAs within their waters.

Dr Sarah Gall, Lecturer in Marine Conservation at the University of
Plymouth, led the research as part of her PhD studies. She said: "This is
the first study to quantify the true footprint of potting. Despite finding
that areas fished with pots were characterised by species indicative
of a healthy reef system, we have not seen the greater abundance,
species richness and diversity we might have expected. The footage we
obtained shows that 25-30% of seabed species were either damaged or
dislodged by potting and we have also highlighted particular concerns
about some long-lived and slow-growing species. The future management
of pot fisheries will need to address these findings on a site by site
basis to ensure the long term health of our rocky reef systems and
the sustainability of the potting industry." The study was carried
out in partnership with fishermen operating in the Inshore Potting
Agreement (IPA) area, which stretches along the South Devon coastline
from Plymouth Sound to Start Point. It was funded by the Devon & Severn
Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority and the University's own
Marine Institute.

It builds on the University's extensive research into the impact of conservation initiatives such as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which
includes a long-running monitoring programme in Lyme Bay, off the Dorset
and Devon coast.

That research has previously shown that restricting the amount of inshore potting for crab and lobster within MPAs can generate a "win-win" for
both fishermen and the marine environment.

Dr Emma Sheehan, Associate Professor of Marine Ecology, leads the Lyme Bay Project and is senior author on the current paper. She added: "Our ongoing
work in Lyme Bay has shown that smaller fishing communities recognise
the importance of preventing damage to the environment in order to secure
their livelihoods in the long term. In that respect, this study is crucial because it provides the first evidence of a potentially global issue and
those in the industry are integral to addressing it. Through working with conservation and coastal managers, we hope a solution could be reached
where the interests of industry and the environment can be balanced."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Plymouth. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Sarah C. Gall, Lynda D. Rodwell, Sarah Clark, Tim Robbins, Martin J.

Attrill, Luke A. Holmes, Emma V. Sheehan. The impact of potting
for crustaceans on temperate rocky reef habitats: Implications for
management. Marine Environmental Research, 2020; 162: 105134 DOI:
10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.105134 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201013101638.htm

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