Comparison of Seafloor Habitats and Associated Benthic Fauna in Areas Open and Closed to Bottom Trawling Along the Central California Continental Shelf. Marine Sactuaries Conservation Series ONMS-09-02

摘要

The primary objective of the present study was to evaluate recovery of seafloor microhabitats and associated benthic fauna from trawling-related impacts in National Marine Sanctuaries along the central California continental shelf. This objective is being addressed by comparison of the condition of these resources at previously trawled sites within an Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) ground-fish closure area, located within Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary (CBNMS), to actively trawled sites of comparable habitat type (unconsolidated fine sediments at depths of 113-152 m) outside the closure area (Figure 1). The EFH closure area was established in June 2006, though study sites within this area have experienced no trawling since 2003, based on trawl records from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Currently trawled sites outside the closure area are within the adjacent Gulf of Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (GFNMS). The results of this study are intended to assist the MBNMS in fulfilling its Benthic Habitat Action Plan and revised 2006 Draft Sanctuary Management Plan requirements, which call for such studies, and to contribute to a related long-term goal aimed at maintaining the natural state of biological communities and ecological processes while promoting the sustainability of local fisheries. Results also will be made available to address related management issues of adjacent CBNMS and GFNMS where the actual sampling sites are located.