Trawling disturbance on benthic ecosystems and consequences on commercial species: a northwestern Mediterranean case study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.04024.19AKeywords:
benthos, BTA, functioning, mullet fisheries, trawling, NW MediterraneanAbstract
Trawling is known to disturb benthic communities and habitats, which may in turn indirectly affect populations of commercial species that live in close association with the seabed. The degree of impact on both benthic communities and demersal species depends on the fishing effort level. This may vary over the year because of the fleet dynamics, which are in turn normally driven by the main target species’ life cycle. In this study we describe changes in benthic functional components of a northwestern Mediterranean fishing ground that represents a recruitment area for an important target species (red mullet, Mullus barbatus). This fishing ground experiences a varying intensity of fishing effort over the year and benthic functional components under different levels of trawling were compared with an unfished, control area. Traits related to sexual maturity and life span for infauna and body size and life span for epifauna were found to vary with fishing activity. Potential effects of these changes on ecological functioning and the impact on red mullet population are discussed. The development of fisheries management plans under an ecosystem based fisheries management (EBFM) requires the links between target species and benthic communities’ disturbance due to fishing practices to be explicitly considered.
Downloads
References
Aguirre H. 2000. Aspectos Biológicos y Ecológicos del Salmonete de Fango Mullus barbatus L., 1758 y del Salmonete de Roca Mullus surmuletus L., 1758, del Mediterráneo Noroccidental. Ph.D. thesis, Tech. Univ. Catalonia, 147-213 pp.
Anderson M.J., Gorley R.N., Clarke K.R. 2008. PERMANOVA + for PRIMER: Guide to Software and Statistical Methods. The University of Auckland Press, 214 pp.
Auster P.J., Langton R.W. 1998. The effects of fishing on fish habitat. Am. Fish. Soc. Symp. 22: 150-187.
Bremner J., Rogers S., Frid C. 2003. Assessing functional diversity in marine benthic ecosystems: a comparison of approaches. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 254: 11-25. http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps254011
Brown E.J., Finney B., Dommiss, M., Hills S. 2005. Effects of commercial otter trawling on the physical environment of the southeastern Bering Sea. Cont. Shelf Res. 25(10): 1281-1301. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.csr.2004.12.005
Bundy A., Fanning L.P. 2005. Can Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) recover? Exploring trophic explanations for the non-recovery of the cod stock on the eastern Scotian Shelf, Canada. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 62: 1474-1489. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f05-086
Caddy J.F. 1993. Some future persperctives for assessment and management of Mediterranean fisheries. Sci. Mar. 57(2-3): 121-130.
Caddy J.F. in press. Why do assessments of demersal stocks largely ignore habitat? ICES J. Mar. Sci.
Charvet S., Kosmala A. Statzner B. 1998. Biomonitoring through biological traits of benthic macroinvertebrates: perspectives for a general tool in stream management. Arch. fu.r Hydrobiol. 142(4): 415-432.
Collie J. S., Hermsen J. M., Valentine P. C. 2005. Effects of fishing on gravel habitats: assessment and recovery of benthic megafauna on Georges Bank. Am. Fish. Soc. Symp. 41: 325-343.
Dayton P.K., Thrush S.F, Agardy M.T., Hofman R.J. 1995. Environmental effects of marine fishing. Aquatic. Conserv. 5: 205-232. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3270050305
de Juan S., Demestre M. 2012. A Trawl Disturbance Indicator to quantify large scale fishing impact on benthic ecosystems. Ecol. Indic. 18: 183-190. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2011.11.020
de Juan S., Hewitt J. 2014. Spatial and temporal variability in species richness in a temperate intertidal community. Ecography 37(2): 183-190. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0587.2013.00048.x
de Juan S., Cartes J. E., Demestre M. 2007a. Effects of commercial trawling activities in the diet of the flat fish Citharus linguatula (Osteichthyes: Pleuronectiformes) and the starfish Astropecten irregularis (Echinodermata: Asteroidea). J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 349(1): 152-169. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2007.05.003
de Juan S., Thrush S., Demestre M. 2007b. Functional changes as indicators of trawling disturbance on a benthic community located in a fishing ground (NW Mediterranean Sea). Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 334: 117-129. http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps334117
de Juan S., Demestre M., Thrush S. 2009. Defining ecological indicators of trawling disturbance when everywhere that can be fished is fished: A Mediterranean case study. Mar. Policy 33 (3): 472-478. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2008.11.005
de Juan S., Demestre M., Sánchez P. 2011. Exploring the degree of trawling disturbance by the analysis of benthic communities ranging from a heavily exploited fishing ground to an undisturbed area in the NW Mediterranean. Sci. Mar. 75(3): 507-516. http://dx.doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2011.75n3507
Demestre M. 2006. Response of benthic communities and sediment to different regimens of fishing disturbance in European coastal waters. EU Project Q5RS-2002-00787. Final Report, 639 pp.
Demestre M., Sbrana M., Alvarez F., Sánchez P. 1997. Analysis of the interaction of fishing gear in Mullus barbatus fisheries of the Western Mediterranean. J. Appl. Ichtyology 13: 49-56. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0426.1997.tb00100.x
Demestre M., Sánchez P., Abelló P. 2000. Demersal fish assemblages and habitat characteristics on the continental shelf and upper slope of the North-Western Mediterranean. J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. U.K. 80: 981-988 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0025315400003040
Demestre M., de Juan S., Sartor P., Ligas A. 2008. Seasonal closures as a measure of trawling effort control in two Mediterranean trawling grounds: effects on epibenthic communities. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 56(10): 1765-1773. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.06.004 PMid:18649897
European Comission 2008. Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the council of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive). Official Journal of the European Union, L167/19
Fanelli E., Badalamenti F., D'Anna G., Pipitone C., Romano C. 2010. Trophodynamic effects of trawling on the feeding ecology of pandora, Pagellus erythrinus, off the northern Sicily coast (Mediterranean Sea). Mar. Freshw. Res. 61(4): 408. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/MF09049
Fanelli E., Cartes J. E., Badalamenti F., D'Anna G., Pipitone C., Azzurro E., Rumolo P., Sprovieri M. 2011. Meso-scale variability of coastal suprabenthic communities in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea (Western Mediterranean). Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci. 91(3): 351-360. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2010.10.026
Fiorentino F., Garofalo, G., Gristina M., Gancitano, S., Norrito G. 2004. Some relevant information on the spatial distribution of demersal resources, benthic biocoenoses and fishing pressure in the Strait of Sicily. Report of the MedSudMed Expert Consultation on Spatial Distribution of Demersal Resources in the Straits of Sicily and the Influence of Environmental Factors and Fishery Characteristics. GCP/RER/010/ITA/MSM-TD-02. MedSudMed Technical Documents 2: 50-66.
Fiorentino F., Badalamenti F., D'Anna G., Garofalo G., Gianguzza P., Gristina M., Pipitone C., Rizzo P., Fortibuoni T. 2008. Changes in spawning-stock structure and recruitment pattern of red mullet, Mullus barbatus after a trawl ban in the Gulf of Castellammare (central Mediterranean Sea). ICES J. Mar. Sci. 65: 1175-1183. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsn104
Frid C.L.J., Harwood K.G., Hall S.J., Hall J.A. 2000. Long-term changes in the benthic communities on North Sea fishing grounds. ICES J. Mar. Sci. 57(5): 1303-1309. http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/jmsc.2000.0900
Hiddink J., Hutton T., Jennings S., Kaiser M. 2006a. Predicting the effects of area closures and fishing effort restrictions on the production, biomass, and species richness of benthic invertebrate communities. ICES J. Mar. Sci. 63(5): 822-830. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.icesjms.2006.02.006
Hiddink J. G., Jennings,S., Kaiser M. J., Queirós A. M., Duplisea D. E., Piet G. J. 2006b. Cumulative impacts of seabed trawl disturbance on benthic biomass, production, and species richness in different habitats. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 736: 721-736. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f05-266
Hinz H., Prieto V., Kaiser M. J. 2009. Trawl disturbance on benthic communities: Chronic effects and experimental predictions. Ecol. Appl. 19(3): 761-773. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/08-0351.1 PMid:19425437
Jennings S., Kaiser M. J. 1998. The effects of fishing on marine ecosystems. Adv. Mar. Biol. 34: 268-352. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2881(08)60212-6
Jennings S., Dinmore T.A., Duplisea D.E., Warr K.J., Lancaster J.E. 2001. Trawling disturbance can modify benthic production processes. J. Anim. Ecol. 44: 459-475. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2656.2001.00504.x
Jennings S., Nicholson M., Dinmore T., Lancaster, J. 2002. Effects of chronic trawling disturbance on the production of infaunal communities. Mar. Ecol. Progr. Ser. 243: 251-260. http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps243251
Kaiser M.J., Rogers S.I., Ellis J.R. 1999. Importance of benthic habitat complexity for demersal fish assemblages. Am. Fish. Soc. Sym. 22: 212-223
Kaiser, M.J., Ramsay, K., Richardson, C.A., Spence, F.E., Brand, A. R. 2000. Chronic fishing disturbance has changed shelf sea benthic community structure. J. Anim. Ecol. 69(3): 494-503. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2656.2000.00412.x
Kaiser M., Clarke K., Hinz H., Austen, M., Somerfield P., Karakassis I. 2006. Global analysis of response and recovery of benthic biota to fishing. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 311: 1-14. http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps311001
Koch E.W., Barbier E.B., Silliman B.R., Reed D.J., Perillo G.M., Hacker S.D., Granek E.F., Primavera J.H., Muthiga N., Polasky S., Halpern B.S., Kennedy C.J. Kappel C.V, Wolanski E. 2009. Non-linearity in ecosystem services: temporal and spatial variability in coastal protection. Front. Ecol. Environ. 7(1): 29-37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/080126
Lleonart J., Maynou F. 2003. Fish stock assessments in the Mediterranean: state of the art. Sci. Mar. 67: 37-49.
Lohrer A.M., Thrush S.F., Gibbs M.M. 2004. Bioturbators enhance ecosystem function through complex biogeochemical interactions. Nature 431(7012): 1092-1095. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature03042 PMid:15470385
Lohrer A. M., Chiaroni L. D., Hewitt J. E., Thrush S. F. 2008. Biogenic disturbance determines invasion success in a subtidal soft-sediment system. Ecology 89(5): 1299-1307. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/07-0421.1 PMid:18543623
Lombarte A., Recasens L., González M., Gil de Sola L. 2000. Spatial segregation of two species of Mullidae in relation to habitat. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 206: 239-249. http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps206239
Lukoschek V., McCormick M. 2001. Ontogeny of diet changes in a tropical benthic carnivorous fish, Parupeneus barberinus (Mullidae): relationship between foraging behaviour, habitat use, jaw size, and prey selection. Mar. Biol. 138(6): 1099-1113. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s002270000530
Machias A., Labropoulou M. 2002. Intra-specific variation in resource use by red mullet, Mullus barbatus. Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci. 55(4): 565–578. http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/ecss.2001.0924
Martín P., Sartor P., Garcia-Rodriguez M. 1999. Exploitation patterns of the European hake Merluccius merluccius, red mullet Mullus barbatus and striped red mullet Mullus surmuletus in the western Mediterranean. J. Appl. Ichthyol. 15(1): 24-28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1439-0426.1999.00125.x
Martín P., Muntadas A., de Juan S., Sánchez P., Demestre M. 2014. Performance of a North Western Mediterranean bottom trawl fleet: How the integration of landings and VMS data can contribute to the implementation of ecosystem-based fi sheries management. Mar. Policy 43: 112-121. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2013.05.009
Planes S., García-Charton J.A., Pérez-Ruzafa A. (Coord.), 2006. Ecological effects of Atlanto-Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas in the European Union. EMPAFISH Project, Booklet, 1158 pp.
Queirós A.M., Hiddink J.G., Kaiser M.J., Hinz H. 2006. Effects of chronic bottom trawling disturbance on benthic biomass, production and size spectra in different habitats. J. Exp. Mar. Bio. Ecol. 335(1): 91-103. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2006.03.001
Rijnsdorp A., Vingerhoed B. 2001. Feeding of plaice Pleuronectes platessa L. and sole Solea solea (L.) in relation to the effects of bottom trawling. J. Sea Res. 45(3-4): 219–229. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1385-1101(01)00047-8
Rumohr H., Kujawsky T. 2000. The impact of trawl fishery on the epifauna of the southern North Sea. ICES J. Mar. Sci. 57(5): 1389-1394. http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/jmsc.2000.0930
Sánchez P., Demestre, M., Martín P. 2004. Characterisation of the discards generated by bottom trawling in the northwestern Mediterranean. Fish. Res. 67(1): 71-80 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2003.08.004
Sánchez P., Sartor P., Recasens L., Ligas A., Martin J., de Ranieri S., Demestre M. 2007. Trawl catch composition during different fishing intensity periods in two Mediterranean demersal fishing grounds. Ecologia 71(4): 765-773.
Sardá R., Pinedo S., Martin D. 1999. Seasonal dynamics of macroinfaunal key species inhabiting shallow soft-bottoms in the Bay of Blanes (NW Mediterranean). Acta Oecologica 20(4): 315-326. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1146-609X(99)00135-6
Smith C. 2000. Impact of otter trawling on an eastern Mediterranean commercial trawl fishing ground. ICES J. Mar. Sci. 57(5): 1340-1351. http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/jmsc.2000.0927
Thrush S. F., Dayton P. K. 2002. Disturbance to marine benthic habitats by trawling and dredging: Implications for Marine Biodiversity. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 3(1): 449-473. http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.33.010802.150515
Thrush S.F., Hewitt J. E., Cummings V. J., Dayton P. K., Cryer M., Turner S. J., Funnell G. A., Budd R. G., Milburn, C. J., Wilkinson, M. R. 1998. Disturbance of the Marine Benthic Habitat by Commercial Fishing : Impacts at the Scale of the Fishery. Ecol. Appl. 8(3): 866-879. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/1051-0761(1998)008[0866:DOTMBH]2.0.CO;2
Thrush S., Hewitt J., Funnell G., Cummings V., Ellis J., Schultz D., Talley D., Norkko A. 2001. Fishing disturbance and marine biodiversity: role of habitat structure in simple soft-sediment systems. Mar. Ecol. Progr. Ser. 221: 255-264. http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps221255
Thrush S. F., Hewitt J. E., Lohrer A. M., Chiaroni, L. D. 2013. When small changes matter: the role of cross-scale interactions between habitat and ecological connectivity in recovery. Ecol. appl. 23(1): 226-238. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/12-0793.1 PMid:23495648
Tserpes G., Fiorentino F., Levi D., Cau A., Murenu M., Zamboni A., Papaconstantinou C. 2002. Distribution of Mullus barbatus and M. surmuletus (Osteichthyes: Perciformes) in the Mediterranean continental shelf: implications for management. Sci. Mar. 66: 39-54.
Zajac R. 2003. Community and population-level responses to disturbance in a sandflat community. J. Exp. Mar. Bio. Ecol. 294(1): 101-125. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0022-0981(03)00262-4
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2014 Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
© CSIC. Manuscripts published in both the print and online versions of this journal are the property of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, and quoting this source is a requirement for any partial or full reproduction.
All contents of this electronic edition, except where otherwise noted, are distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence. You may read here the basic information and the legal text of the licence. The indication of the CC BY 4.0 licence must be expressly stated in this way when necessary.
Self-archiving in repositories, personal webpages or similar, of any version other than the final version of the work produced by the publisher, is not allowed.
