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Scientific research and conservation of seamounts
in the Azores and the North-East Atlantic region
 Ricardo Serrão Santos et al.
 Departamento de Oceanografia e Pescas, Universidade dos
Açores, Horta, Portugal
Seamounts’09 Workshop
Exploration, Biogeosciences and Fisheries
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
La Jolla, 19-21 March 2009
A view from the Atlantic:
Our Seas in the OSPAR Area.
EEZs
High Seas
EEZs
Mean depth of the seafloor in the OSPAR regions: 2159m
prepared by R Medeiros ImagDOP
A look at OSPAR
1.
 OSPAR proposed MPAs
 NEAFC no-trawl areas
 Azores no-trawl area
Spatially well-distributed?
Alongshore: somewhat, but...
Offshore: No.
Far offshore: No.
courtesy: Jeff Ardron, ICG-OSPAR Vilm
North-Eastern Atlantic and the Azores
North-Eastern Atlantic and the Azores
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Main issues:
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The Azores are characterized by the existence of many seamounts which harbour
important fishing resources, both as resident and visitor species, and “priority
conservation” invertebrate species like cold water corals and deep-sea sponges.
These seamounts are important fishing areas.
This area can be considered an analogy for the habitats generally found at the high
seas.
Demersal fishing distribution (2000)
1,000,000 km2 in 200 nautical miles
Azores fishing in context
Not that much fish out there!
5
Fishing histories
Fishing patterns
Marine habitats of the Azores

Key habitats

Coastal and littoral habitats (including breeding colonies of
seabirds)
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Seamounts
Hydrothermal vents
Open ocean (epipelagic – mesopelagic – bathypelagic)
Santos, R. S. et al.1995
A Review of Marine Research in Relation to Conservation in the Azores
– Aquatic Conservation, 5: pp. 311-354
FP6 - EVK3- OASIS: Oceanic Seamounts:
An Integrated Study (2003-2006)
Objective 1: To identify and describe the
physical forcing mechanisms effecting
seamount systems.
Objective 2: To assess the origin, quality
and dynamics of particulate organic
material within the water column and
surface sediment at seamounts.
Objective 3: To describe aspects of the
biodiversity and the ecology of seamount
biota, to assess their dynamics and the
maintenance of their production.
Objective 4: Modelling the trophic ecology
of seamount ecosystems.
Objective 5: Application of scientific
knowledge to practical conservation.
PROJECT STAGES
REVIEW
Review data on biology, physical
processes and human exploitation of
marine resources
OUTLINE MANAGEMENT SHEME
Initial proposals for management of the
Sedlo seamount
MANAGEMENT PROPOSALS
First draft management scheme for
Sedlo seamount
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SEABED HABITATS
• Sediment
• Gravel, coarse sediment,
or sediment and
cobbles/boulders
• Cobbles, or sediment and
bedrock
• Boulders or bedrock
protruding through
sediment overlay
• Bedrock, or
predominately bedrock
WATER COLUMN
Benthos
Total faunal abundance at each station.
Faunal abundance on different habitats
Mammals and Seabirds
EXISTING ACTIVITIES
Activity
NAVIGATION
Shipping
RECREATION
Boating
Absent
Present
?
STRUCTURES
Cables
Pipelines
High
Comment
Not on a major shipping route.
May be some occasional vessel
traffic
Terrain unsuitable and not on
any likely routeing for cables or
pipelines
WASTE DISPOSAL
Garbage
Ballast water
Other
Prohibition on the dumping of
wastes and presumption against
ballast water exchange under
MARPOL. No evidence to
suggest other wastes disposed
at site
MINERAL EXTRACTION
Oil & gas
Minerals
Aggregate
RESEARCH
Observational
Sampling
Seismic
Medium
No data but unlikely due to
distance from nearest land.
No activity at present and
unlikely to occur in the future.
?
Sports fishing
FISHERIES
Hand lines
Bottom longlines
Pelagic longlines
Pelagic trawling
Deepwater trawling
Low
No known mineral resources, no
current extraction activities, and
no proposed mineral extraction
in the area
?
Most handlining close to coasts
and less than 600m depth;
bottom longliners could operate
in the area but generally work
between 200-800m. Some
pelagic longlining for swordfish
(& tuna) No pelagic trawling.
Bottom trawling prohibited.
Small number of research
cruises conducted as part of
OASIS project and demersal
cruise by DOP/UAç Observational and sampling, no
seismic studies.
Goals and objectives
Overall Goal:
 To manage human activities around Sedlo in a way that protects its ecosystem function,
biodiversity and significance as a representative example of a seamount within a network
of marine protected areas in the Azores EEZ.
Objectives:
 To avoid disruption of the natural processes which support the form and function of the
Sedlo ecosystem.
 To maintain and, where appropriate, enhance the biodiversity of Sedlo and its
surrounding waters
 To ensure that the role of Sedlo as a spawning and nursery ground is not compromised.
 To use Sedlo as a ‘flagship’ site to promote the conservation of offshore areas in the
Azores
 To provide opportunities for research and education consistent with the conservation of
the natural resources of Sedlo
 To use Sedlo as a representative example of a seamount ecosystem within a network of
marine protected areas in the Azores EEZ and in the northeast Atlantic
BOUNDARIES
Option 1. Straight line boundaries enclosing main
zone of influence as indicated by modelling of currents
Management of the Deep-sea
The Azores: A North-Eastern Atlantic case on the New European Maritime Policy
545,310 km2
Lucky Strike: 1700 m
Area = 192.1 km2
Achievements and Drawbacks in the
Azores Environment
• Achievements
– Establishment of MPAs initiated in 1980
– Well established Observers Program of the Fisheries of the Azores (since
1998)
– Several regulations on fisheries based on spatial planning and regulation of
fishing technologies
– Declaration of intention of protection of deep-sea hydrothermal vents (2002)
– Conclusion of the management plans for the Natura 2000 network (19982005)
– Proposal of 7 sites (of which 4 deep-sea) for the OSPAR network of MPAs
(1 in 2005, 5 in Oct 2006, 1 in November 2007)
– Submission of two deep-sea vent fields to be part of new Natura 2000
network
– EC regulation on ban of deep sea trawls and other deep-sea nets (2005)
– Conclusion of a new proposal for the classification of the Sedlo seamount as
a MPA (2006)
– New framework Regional Decree for the Network of MPAs (2007)
• Problems and Drawbacks
– Regional Level: Delay on the effective implementation and regulation of the
MPAs and lack of proper enforcement of inspection of the existing ones
what make some paper MPAs.
– European Level: The CFP has conducted to the increase in 430% the
fishing fleet dedicated to swordfish between the 100 and the 200 NM lines of
the Azorean EEZ with undetermined negative impacts in target (tuna like
fish) and non-target species like sea-turtles and pelagic sharks.
ENV.2008.2.2.1.2 Deep-sea ecosystems
HERMIONE - Hotspot Ecosystem Research and
Man’s Impact on European Seas
ENV.2008.2.2.1.2 Deep-sea ecosystems
HERMIONE - Hotspot Ecosystem Research and
Man’s Impact on European Seas
Observatory for long-term study and monitoring of
Azorean seamount ecosystems - CONDOR
this project will establish an underwater observatory
at the Condor seamount, supported by advanced technology
Aberdeen Oceanlab
partners
co-financed by
The project CONDOR aims to:
• describe and analyse the biodiversity of the Condor seamount
• increase the knowledge of biological and physical processes occurring at the
seamounts
• enhance the quality of advice for the management of seamount areas
• promote general public awareness on marine conservation and sustainable
development
Condor de Terra seamount
•depth 160 to 1000m
Resolution: 10m (depth<400m)
20m (depth 400 to 1800m).
Condor de Terra - summit
Confirmed coral gardens (Viminella flagellum+Dentomuricea sp.)
Condor de Terra - summit
Confirmed coral gardens
Condor de Terra – summit (depth: 200-300m)
Confirmed coral gardens (Dentomuricea sp.)
Condor de Terra – flanks (at 700m)
EMEPC 2008 mission
Confirmed sponge aggregations
A permanent observatory on the Condor seamount?
38.6 °
Latitude (N)
• representative of Azorean seamount
ecosystems
• small size, allowing a thoroughly sampling
over the different habitats
• depth range (180 to > 1000 m) covers a good
range of different biological communities
• close to Fayal, therefore easily accessible for
periodical sampling and control
• well known fishing ground and identifiable
stakeholders
•closed to professional fishing during project
implementation
Banco
Condor Terra
38.5 °
38.4 °
38.3 °
-29.2 °
-29.1 °
-29 °
-28.9 °
Longitude (W)
-28.8 °
-28.7 °
- At present we have:
- Ears – cetaceans sounds acquire
- Receivers VEMCO – electronic fish tags
- Oceanography – Permanent moorings / Satellite images and
normal equipments CTD’s, Roset, etc
- Geology / Habitat mapping: Multibeam, Sidescan, Box-corers (point
samping)
- Advanced observational technology:
1 - ROV’s Seabotix (250m)
2 – ROV LUSO (6000 m)
3 – Visual lander will be build (similar to ROBIO of the OceanLab)
4 – A Norwegian Acoustic lander
5 – Submersible LULA – to be confirmed
 MADE: Mitigating Adverse Ecological Impacts of Open
Ocean Fisheries. FP7-KBBE-2007-1: 210496.
 TRACE: Cetacean habitat associations in oceanic
ecosystems: an integrated approach.
FCT/PTDC/MAR/74071/2006.
Biotelemetry
applied to management of seamount fishes
Question: What is the role of MAR seamounts for
the life history of fishes accross contrasting taxa
and ecologies?
Approach: simultaneously monitor the behaviour of diverse taxa when
they converge to exploit habitat “hot spots” by using appropriate
tracking technology.
Formigas shallow bank Marine Reserve:
an oasis for migratory reef predators?
(passive) acoustic telemetry protocol
Princesa Alice seamount complex:
island-seamount habitat inter-dependence?
(pasive) deep-water acoustic telemetry &
Standard tagging protocols
Large-scale Oceanic Migrants
the Azores seamounts as a reserve?
Satellite & acoustic telemetry protocols
An integrated approach to study cetacean habitat associations in oceanic ecosystems
Dynamics of DSL around seamounts
Condor Seamount
Investigating large-scale
movements: satellite telemetry
Open ocean
Day
Night
Monitoring cetacean year-round occurrence using
passive acoustics
Studying foraging behavior with
Time Depth Recorders
Relationship with oceanic islands and seamounts
Ecological Acoustic Recorders (EARs):
Sensor Technology SQ26-01 hydrophone
4 EARs: 2 shallow-water (~35 m) + 2 deep-water (~190 m)
Monitoring cetacean year-round occurrence using passive acoustics
Relationship with oceanic islands and seamounts
Wildlife Computers Mk9 attached with suction cups
Studying foraging behavior with Time-Depth-Recorders
Large-scale movement patters across the NA
Wildlife Computers SPOT5 satellite tag deployed with ARTS gun
Investigating large-scale movements through satellite tagging
Acknowledgments - DOP’s Seamounts Team
Pedro Afonso – Fish Biotelemetry (Researcher)
Marina Carreiro e Silva – Corals, Bioerosion (Post-Doc)
Irma Cascão – Cetacean, Spatial distribution, Hydrophone arrays (PhD Student)
Eva Giacomello – Biology, Fisheries (Post-Doc)
Andreia Henriques – Corals, Taxonomy, Distribution (PhD Student)
Maria Magalhães – Large pelagic seabirds (Post-Doc)
Gui Menezes – Fisheries, Ecology (Researcher)
Telmo Morato – Fisheries, Ecosystems, Management (Researcher)
Filipe Porteiro – Taxonomy (Researcher)
Rui Prieto – Cetacean, Biotelemetry (PhD Student)
Mónica Silva – Cetacean ecology and distribution (Post-Doc)
Sergio Stefanni – Genetics, Deepsea fish (Researcher)
Fréderic Vandeperre – Large pelagic fish (PhD Student)
Fernando Tempera – Mapping, Management (Post-Doc)
Chemosynthetic environments - HTV
Raul Bettencourt – Biological capacities, Imunology, Genetics (Researcher)
Ana Colaço – Trophic Ecology, Management (Researcher)
Daphne Cuvelier – Faunal distribution, Video analysys (PhD Student)
Virginie Riou – Trophic ecology, Carbon assimilation, Isotops (PhD Student)
Inês Martins – Ecotoxicology (PhD Student)