The Mediterranean deep-sea ecosystems: an overwiew of their diversity, structure, functioning and anthropogenic impacts..

Abstract

[EN]The present document therefore arises from a joint initiative between the WWF Mediterranean Programme and the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation, to address these issues at a regional level; it contains, for the first time, a comprehensive proposal for conservation firmly based on the scientific information currently available. Draft versions of this document were circulated for consultation amongst concerned stakeholders and discussed in several relevant meetings (GFCM-SAC-SCMEE, CIESM). This final version has greatly benefited from the feedback generated by this consultation process; the conservation proposals included reflect a wide consensus among scientists and legal experts from all around the Mediterranean. Many authors coincide in stressing that the absence of fishing below 1000 m helps explain the high levels of exploitation sustained by the species. Most of the population fished are adult females, while the males and juvenile fraction of the population, living deeper than 1000 m, may help replenish the exploited stock. However, an increase in the exploitation rates of adult females might undermine the reproductive capabilities of the stock. Additionally, exploiting the juvenile fraction (deeper than 1000 m) might lead to recruitment overfishing in the future.