Cold-water coral habitats benefit adjacent fisheries along the Apulian margin (central Mediterranean)

摘要

This review highlights the beneficial influence of cold-water coral habitats and Bari canyon on the abundance of the bentho-pelagic fauna and demersal fisheries along the Apulian continental margin, between the Southwestern Adriatic and North-western Ionian (Central Mediterranean). Because of its fisheries' value, this geographic area deserves the implementation of a new Fisheries Restricted Area (FRA) for a better governance of the Apulian CWC grounds and related fishery resources.