TY - JOUR
T1 - Identifying Priorities for the Protection of Deep Mediterranean Sea Ecosystems Through an Integrated Approach
AU - Fanelli, Emanuela
AU - Bianchelli, Silvia
AU - Foglini, Federica
AU - Canals, Miquel
AU - Castellan, Giorgio
AU - Güell-Bujons, Queralt
AU - Galil, Bella
AU - Goren, Menachem
AU - Evans, Julian
AU - Fabri, Marie Claire
AU - Vaz, Sandrine
AU - Ciuffardi, Tiziana
AU - Schembri, Patrick J.
AU - Angeletti, Lorenzo
AU - Taviani, Marco
AU - Danovaro, Roberto
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright © 2021 Fanelli, Bianchelli, Foglini, Canals, Castellan, Güell-Bujons, Galil, Goren, Evans, Fabri, Vaz, Ciuffardi, Schembri, Angeletti, Taviani and Danovaro.
PY - 2021/7/22
Y1 - 2021/7/22
N2 - Benthic habitats of the deep Mediterranean Sea and the biodiversity they host are increasingly jeopardized by increasing human pressures, both direct and indirect, which encompass fisheries, chemical and acoustic pollution, littering, oil and gas exploration and production and marine infrastructures (i.e., cable and pipeline laying), and bioprospecting. To this, is added the pervasive and growing effects of human-induced perturbations of the climate system. International frameworks provide foundations for the protection of deep-sea ecosystems, but the lack of standardized criteria for the identification of areas deserving protection, insufficient legislative instruments and poor implementation hinder an efficient set up in practical terms. Here, we discuss the international legal frameworks and management measures in relation to the status of habitats and key species in the deep Mediterranean Basin. By comparing the results of a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and of expert evaluation (EE), we identify priority deep-sea areas for conservation and select five criteria for the designation of future protected areas in the deep Mediterranean Sea. Our results indicate that areas (1) with high ecological relevance (e.g., hosting endemic and locally endangered species and rare habitats),(2) ensuring shelf-slope connectivity (e.g., submarine canyons), and (3) subject to current and foreseeable intense anthropogenic impacts, should be prioritized for conservation. The results presented here provide an ecosystem-based conservation strategy for designating priority areas for protection in the deep Mediterranean Sea.
AB - Benthic habitats of the deep Mediterranean Sea and the biodiversity they host are increasingly jeopardized by increasing human pressures, both direct and indirect, which encompass fisheries, chemical and acoustic pollution, littering, oil and gas exploration and production and marine infrastructures (i.e., cable and pipeline laying), and bioprospecting. To this, is added the pervasive and growing effects of human-induced perturbations of the climate system. International frameworks provide foundations for the protection of deep-sea ecosystems, but the lack of standardized criteria for the identification of areas deserving protection, insufficient legislative instruments and poor implementation hinder an efficient set up in practical terms. Here, we discuss the international legal frameworks and management measures in relation to the status of habitats and key species in the deep Mediterranean Basin. By comparing the results of a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and of expert evaluation (EE), we identify priority deep-sea areas for conservation and select five criteria for the designation of future protected areas in the deep Mediterranean Sea. Our results indicate that areas (1) with high ecological relevance (e.g., hosting endemic and locally endangered species and rare habitats),(2) ensuring shelf-slope connectivity (e.g., submarine canyons), and (3) subject to current and foreseeable intense anthropogenic impacts, should be prioritized for conservation. The results presented here provide an ecosystem-based conservation strategy for designating priority areas for protection in the deep Mediterranean Sea.
KW - Marine Strategy Framework Directive
KW - Mediterranean Sea
KW - biodiversity hotspots
KW - deep-sea ecosystems
KW - expert evaluation
KW - marine protected areas
KW - multicriteria decision analysis
KW - protection guidelines
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85112669550&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fmars.2021.698890
DO - 10.3389/fmars.2021.698890
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AN - SCOPUS:85112669550
SN - 2296-7745
VL - 8
JO - Frontiers in Marine Science
JF - Frontiers in Marine Science
M1 - 698890
ER -