Preliminary data on cold-water corals and large sponges by-catch from Spanish/EU bottom trawl groundfish surveys in NAFO Regulatory Area (Divs. 3LMNO) and Canadian EEZ (Div. 3L): 2005-2007 period

Since 2005, by-catch of vulnerable invertebrates, such as cold-water corals and large sponges, has been studied with
\nspecial attention in the Spanish/EU bottom trawl groundfish surveys in Northwest Atlantic (NAFO Divs. 3LMNO).
\nBased on this research, twenty-nine different taxa of cold-water corals have been preliminarily identified in the
\nstudy area: five alcyonaceans, ten gorgonaceans, ten pennatulaceans, three solitary scleractinians and one
\nantipatharian. No colonial scleractinians were recorded during these surveys and reef structures are unlikely to occur
\nin the study area. The main large sponges found belong to the family Geodiidae.
\nThe volume of cold-water corals and large sponges in the by-catches was generally low in the regularly-used
\nfishing grounds studied. Most of the by-catches were recorded in hauls carried out in areas outside of regular fishing
\ngrounds for the bottom trawlers. By-catches of large gorgonians were recorded in three small areas located in Divs.
\n3LM (two in Div. 3L and one in Div. 3M), indicating that Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs) could occur
\nthere. Pennatulaceans, solitary scleractinians, alcyonaceans and antipatharians were also observed as part of bycatch
\nin some hauls carried out in Divs. 3LMO, but it is not clear if these by-catches indicate presence of VMEs in
\nthe area sampled. Highest diversity of coral species was found in Div. 3M. Large sponges occurred in deep waters,
\nin a narrow band along Northern slope of the Grand Banks (Div. 3N) and Southern Flemish Pass (Div. 3L) as well
\nas in several patches located in North-eastern and Eastern Flemish Cap.
\nThe preliminary information presented here, derived solely from bottom trawl survey by-catch records, it is not
\nenough for identification of VMEs accurately, but it is very valuable to give a general view of where VMEs like to
\noccur or not occur. Previous experience from other North Atlantic high-seas fishing grounds (e.g. NEAFC
\nRegulatory Area) suggests that additional geohabitat mapping and information on fishery footprint will be needed
\nfor the accurate delineation of VMEs and for the subsequent adoption of suitable habitat conservation measures such
\nas Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to preserve cold-water corals and large sponges in NAFO Area.

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