Suchergebnisse

The Commission requests that an analysis of balance between fleet capacity and fishing opportunity be made using a standard approach across all EU fleet segments and based on DCF information. Where possible, evaluation should use data reference year 2009 to 2013 or 2014 if data are available. ; peer-reviewed

Climate change has been predicted to have large and rapid impacts on the Mediterranean Sea. Impacts of increasing mean annual sea temperatures, more extreme climatic events and changes in oceanographic parameters will a ffect the distribution, productivity and resilience of commercially targeted stocks. This study uses data on the Maltese fi shing industry, collected through the EU fi sheries data collection system by the Government of Malta, to develop our understanding of how climate change may impact the Maltese fi sheries sector. The most important fleet segment contributing to the overall productivity of the Maltese fishing industry, both in terms of total biomass landed and total generated income, was comprised of vessels using hooks in 2009-2011. These vessels mainly used drifting surface longlines to target large pelagic species. In 2011, this fleet segment accounted for the largest number of full time employment positions, and was the most important fleet segment in terms of total investment. Available information on species targeted by this fleet segment suggests that the impact of climate change may in fact be positive. However, limited information is available on stock status as well as on the potential impacts of climate change on several important target species such as sword sh, dolphin sh and blue n tuna. In order to ensure the continued competitiveness of the Maltese fishing fleet in light of this uncertain situation, it is suggested that an emphasis is placed on ensuring that the industry is flexible and able to eff ectively market and promote new products as and when they emerge. This could be achieved by developing fi shers' skills accordingly, and placing an emphasis on diversifying activities. ; peer-reviewed

A case study approach was used to investigate the effectiveness of the current legislative framework, and the implementation of management measures which govern bottom trawling in the central Mediterranean Sea. The general perception amongst key stakeholders interviewed in the Maltese Islands was that the current legal framework is sufficient, but that improvements in regional enforcement and control are required if shared stocks are to be exploited sustainably. ; peer-reviewed

Expert working groups EWG-14-12 / 14-21 were convened under STECF to assess balance indicators for key fleet segments, review national reports on Member States efforts to achieve balance between fleet capacity and fishing opportunities, and assess Action Plans submitted for fleet segments where Member States identified structural overcapacity. EWG-14-12 was held in Salerno, Italy from the 27-31 October 2014; EWG-14-21 was held in Ispra, Italy from the 13 – 15 January 2015. Independently calculated balance indicators, based on DCF economic data and stock assessment information were provided to experts, and the evaluation of these balance indicators is reported here. Member State fleet capacity reports were assessed by using the scoring system developed and applied in previous STECF EWGs. Fleet segment Action Plans submitted by Member States for fleet segments with identified structural overcapacity as identified by the Member States in their reports in line with Article 22.4 of Regulation (EU) 1380/2013 were evaluated for the first time. The Commission requests that an analysis of balance between fleet capacity and fishing opportunity be made using a standard approach across all EU fleet segments and based on DCF information. Where possible, evaluation should use data reference year 2009 to 2012 or 2013 if data are available. In 2012 the assessed fleet segments represented over 70% of the value of landings of the EU. The objective is to increase this percentage in the next few years. ; peer-reviewed

Several EU Directives and regional conventions are concerned with the protection and conservation of marine habitats of special importance; a necessary prerequisite to implement such legislation are marine habitat classification systems and information on the distribution of marine habitat types. There are several habitat classification schemes in use for the description, designation and monitoring of habitats. The 'Interpretation Manual for Marine Habitats within the 25 NM Fisheries Management Zone around the Republic of Malta' provides an updated description of marine habitats found around the Maltese Islands, as well as a cross-referencing scheme for the different habitat classification systems. Marine habitats are listed according to bathymetric zone, going from shallow to deep water. The bathymetric zones included in the interpretation manual are: (1) mediolittoral, (2) infralittoral, (3) circalittoral, and (4) bathyal. Habitats listed in the European Nature Information System (EUNIS) database were reviewed, habitats which are present in the Maltese Islands were identified, and 'new' habitat categories have been included in the manual where there was no equivalent EUNIS habitat. For each habitat category presented, cross- references to the system used in connection with the Protocol for Specially Protected Areas and Biodiversity in the Mediterranean (SPABM) of the Barcelona Convention, to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) classification system of predominant habitat types, as well as to the marine habitats listed in Annex I of the 'Habitats Directive', were established. In addition a scheme to enable the assessment of the conservation status of marine habitats as required under the 'Habitats Directive' was drawn up by considering the habitat range, the area occupied by a habitat, habitat structure and function, and the habitat's future prospects. Suitable indicators to assess favourable conservation status are presented for (i) sandbanks, (ii) Posidonia beds, (iii) reefs and (iv) sea caves. In addition, indicators to assess the conservation status of maerl beds are presented due to the local significance and the sensitivity of this habitat. The manual thus intends to aid in the implementation of measures for the protection of marine habitats and hence, ultimately, to ensure effective and efficient management of the marine environment under the jurisdiction of Malta up to the 25 NM boundary, in line with the relevant legislation. ; peer-reviewed

Data from MEDITS trawl surveys in the waters surrounding the Maltese Islands were analysed to characterise the benthic and demersal assemblages of the central Mediterranean, which are only poorly known, hampering Maltese authorities in meeting legislative obligations. A total of 147 benthic species and 98 demersal species were identified. These formed four well-defined assemblages, whose structure and composition were related to depth. Total species richness and abundance of both demersal and benthic species decreased with depth. The most abundant structuring epibenthic species which characterised the identified assemblages were the tall sea pen Funicularia quadrangularis (present at depths of ca. 50–700 m), the red sea pen Pennatula rubra (ca. 100–450 m), the hydroids Lytocarpia myriophyllum (ca. 100–250 m) and Nemertesia sp. (ca. 100–600), the soft coral Alcyonium palmatum (ca. 100–400 m), and the anemone Actinauge richardi (ca. 100–600 m). These results illustrate how, in the absence of dedicated benthic mapping studies, MEDITS data can be used to provide preliminary information that would not otherwise be available. ; peer-reviewed

The Mediterranean Sea is a hotspot for marine biodiversity. Past studies of Mediterranean marine caves have revealed the unique biocoenotic and ecological characteristics of these habitats, which are protected by European Union legislation. The Maltese Islands have an abundance of partially and fully submerged marine caves with di fferent geomorphological characteristics, yet there have been no systematic studies on these habitats and their associated species. This study is a firrst synthesis of existing information on the biotic assemblages and physical characteristics of Maltese marine caves. The work combines a review of the available information with a preliminary survey of some marine caves in Gozo, during which several species were recorded for the first time for the Maltese Islands. Characteristic species recorded from local marine caves are highlighted, including several species of red and brown algae, sessile invertebrates including bryozoans, ascidians and sponges, and mobile forms including crustaceans and fi sh. A marked zonation from the cave entrance to the inside of the caves was identifi ed: photophilic algae at the mouth of the cave are progressively replaced by more sciaphilic species, followed by a middle section dominated by sessile invertebrates, and then a completely dark inner section that is mostly devoid of sessile organisms. Several species protected by national and international legislation were found to occur. ; peer-reviewed

The importance of stakeholder involvement in marine spatial planning was assessed in a Maltese Marine Protected Area (MPA) through a questionnaire survey of six main stakeholder groups, namely governmental authorities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), bus and boat trip operators, dive centres and small business owners. The questionnaires revealed the different views of the stakeholder groups based on their interest in the Dwejra MPA, conflicts among users, environmental concerns, and also helped identification of potential management measures. Interests differed among stakeholders, but response rates were highest for questions related to economic and environmental concerns. Two additional existing data sets, one on marine habitat distribution and one on fishing activities in the MPA were included in a spatial analysis of conflicts identified through the questionnaire. A major conflict exists between stakeholders engaged in fishing and diving activities, due to overlap of activity ranges in the relatively small MPA. The number of ongoing activities was highest during the months April to October, which results from the high influx of tourists during the summer months, favourable weather conditions, and the fact that fishers are more active during this period. Environmental NGOs considered the number of tourists visiting the MPA to be too high, and a similar perception was expressed by most stakeholders with regards to the number of divers. Fifteen management measures which may be used to improve regulation of human activities in the area were identified, including the introduction of a visitor fee. This suggestion was favoured by NGOs, government authorities, and most dive centres interviewed, but opposed by bus and boat trip operators, as well as by small business owners. A zonation plan was considered beneficial by most interviewees, with the results of the statistical analyses indicating no significant difference among the responses given by the different stakeholder groups. A comparison between a zonation scheme developed by the Maltese national government, the San Lawrence local council, and the NGO Nature Trust in 2005, and a second draft scheme prepared by the Professional Diving Schools Association, which was presented during the stakeholder interviews carried out as part of the present study in 2014, showed partial overlap of conservation measures. However, the 2005 zonation plan is more comprehensive since it takes into account available data on benthic habitats and includes measures to protect sensitive habitats and species. ; peer-reviewed

Time-series of abundance indices of deep sea demersal resources (501-800m) derived by the MEDITS trawl survey in the Strait of Sicily (GSA 16) were analysed by aggregated taxa (bony fish, cartilaginous fish, cephalopods and crustaceans) and species using a polynomial approach. The results showed a significant increasing trend of the cartilaginous fish and cephalopods, in terms of biomass (kg/km) and density (n/Km) indices, whereas temporal pattern in bony fish and crustaceans resulted not significant. Helicolenus dactylopterus, Hoplostetus mediterraneus, Galeus melastomus, Nephrops norvegicus and Aristaeomorpha foliacea showed significant trends in both number and weight, whereas Aristeus antennatus, Etmopterus spinax and Chimera monstrosa only in biomass. ; This work was carried out within the Data Collection Regulation and Framework - module trawl surveys MEDITS funded by European Union and the Italian Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies. ; peer-reviewed

Posidonia oceanica meadows are declining at alarming rates due to climate change and human activities. Although P. oceanica is considered the most important and well-studied seagrass species of the Mediterranean Sea, to date there has been a limited effort to combine all the spatial information available and provide a complete distribution of meadows across the basin. The aim of this work is to provide a fine-scale assessment of (i) the current and historical known distribution of P. oceanica, (ii) the total area of meadows and (iii) the magnitude of regressive phenomena in the last decades. The outcomes showed the current spatial distribution of P. oceanica, covering a known area of 1,224,707 ha, and highlighted the lack of relevant data in part of the basin (21,471 linear km of coastline). The estimated regression of meadows amounted to 34% in the last 50 years, showing that this generalised phenomenon had to be mainly ascribed to cumulative effects of multiple local stressors. Our results highlighted the importance of enforcing surveys to assess the status and prioritize areas where cost-effective schemes for threats reduction, capable of reversing present patterns of change and ensuring P. oceanica persistence at Mediterranean scale, could be implemented. ; This study was supported and financed by the Commission of the European Union (DG MARE) within the MAREA Framework contract (Call for tenders MARE/2009/05_Lot1) through the Specific Project MEDISEH (SI2.600741): Mediterranean Sensitive Habitats, that received 568.996 euro. The opinions expressed are those of the authors of the study only and do not represent the Commission's official position. ; peer-reviewed

Posidonia oceanica meadows are declining at alarming rates due to climate change and human activities. Although P. oceanica is considered the most important and well-studied seagrass species of the Mediterranean Sea, to date there has been a limited effort to combine all the spatial information available and provide a complete distribution of meadows across the basin. The aim of this work is to provide a fine-scale assessment of (i) the current and historical known distribution of P. oceanica, (ii) the total area of meadows and (iii) the magnitude of regressive phenomena in the last decades. The outcomes showed the current spatial distribution of P. oceanica, covering a known area of 1,224,707 ha, and highlighted the lack of relevant data in part of the basin (21,471 linear km of coastline). The estimated regression of meadows amounted to 34% in the last 50 years, showing that this generalised phenomenon had to be mainly ascribed to cumulative effects of multiple local stressors. Our results highlighted the importance of enforcing surveys to assess the status and prioritize areas where cost-effective schemes for threats reduction, capable of reversing present patterns of change and ensuring P. oceanica persistence at Mediterranean scale, could be implemented. ; This study was supported and financed by the Commission of the European Union (DG MARE) within the MAREA Framework contract (Call for tenders MARE/2009/05_Lot1) through the Specific Project MEDISEH (SI2.600741): Mediterranean Sensitive Habitats, that received 568.996 euro. The opinions expressed are those of the authors of the study only and do not represent the Commission's official position. The European Commission is thankfully acknowledged. ; This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from NPG via http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep12505

Summary based on the state-of-the-art for the deep Mediterranean Sea with the final aim of identifying knowledge and gaps, descriptor by descriptor (such as lack of data, indicators, thresholds). This document is an analysis of all scientific publications, national and international reports and grey literature available on the implementation of the MSFD to the deep Mediterranean Sea. ; N/A

The identification of nursery grounds and other essential fish habitats of exploited stocks is a key requirement for the development of spatial conservation planning aimed at reducing the adverse impact of fishing on the exploited populations and ecosystems. The reduction in juvenile mortality is particularly relevant in the Mediterranean and is considered as one of the main prerequisites for the future sustainability of trawl fisheries. The distribution of nursery areas of 11 important commercial species of demersal fish and shellfish was analysed in the European Union Mediterranean waters using time series of bottom trawl survey data with the aim of identifying the most persistent recruitment areas. A high interspecific spatial overlap between nursery areas was mainly found along the shelf break of many different sectors of the Northern Mediterranean indicating a high potential for the implementation of conservation measures. Overlap of the nursery grounds with existing spatial fisheries management measures and trawl fisheries restricted areas was also investigated. Spatial analyses revealed considerable variation depending on species and associated habitat/depth preferences with increased protection seen in coastal nurseries and minimal protection seen for deeper nurseries (e.g. Parapenaeus longirostris 6%). This is partly attributed to existing environmental policy instruments (e.g. Habitats Directive and Mediterranean Regulation EC 1967/2006) aiming at minimising impacts on coastal priority habitats such as seagrass, coralligenous and maerl beds. The new knowledge on the distribution and persistence of demersal nurseries provided in this study can support the application of spatial conservation measures, such as the designation of no-take Marine Protected Areas in EU Mediterranean waters and their inclusion in a conservation network. The establishment of no-take zones will be consistent with the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy applying the ecosystem approach to fisheries management and with the requirements of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive to maintain or achieve seafloor integrity and good environmental status. ; This study was supported and financed by the Commission of the European Union (DG MARE) through the Project MEDISEH: Mediterranean Sensitive Habitats within the MAREA Framework contract (Call for tenders MAREA/2009/05). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. ; peer-reviewed