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MEPS
Marine Ecology Progress Series

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MEPS 397:295-303 (2009)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps08304

Damage and disturbance to coral and sponge habitat of the Aleutian Archipelago

Jonathan Heifetz*, Robert P. Stone, S. Kalei Shotwell

NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Auke Bay Laboratories, Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute, 17109 Pt. Lena Loop Road, Juneau, Alaska 99801-8344, USA

ABSTRACT: Video imagery was examined to quantify seafloor disturbance and damage to corals and sponges relative to fishing practices in the central Aleutian Islands of Alaska. Corals and sponges were classified as damaged if they had broken skeletons, missing or broken branches, were torn (i.e. sponges) or detached from the seafloor, or were attached but lying on the seafloor. Disturbance was defined as any alteration to the seafloor or biota caused by fishing gear or natural events. Overall, 14% of corals and 21% of sponges were damaged, and disturbance was widespread and evident on most video transects. The proportion of damaged corals was significantly less (p =  0.003) in areas with little or no bottom trawl fishing versus areas with medium and high intensity bottom trawl fishing. For other gear types, damage was not significantly different among fishing levels. Damage for all corals was 7% in untrawled areas, 7% in low-intensity areas, 14% in medium-intensity areas, and 49% in high-intensity areas. For gorgonians, 5% were damaged in untrawled areas and 23% were damaged in high-intensity areas. For hydrocorals, damage was 10% in untrawled areas and 53% in medium-intensity areas. Hydrocorals were absent from high-intensity areas. About 40% of sea whips were damaged in high-intensity areas versus 1% in other areas. While some protective measures have been implemented to halt the expansion of bottom trawl fishing to unfished areas, the conservation of coral and sponge habitat in fished areas is still of primary concern.


KEY WORDS: Deep-sea coral · Sponge · Damage · Habitat · Fishing gear effects


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Cite this article as: Heifetz J, Stone RP, Shotwell SK (2009) Damage and disturbance to coral and sponge habitat of the Aleutian Archipelago. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 397:295-303. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps08304

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