Distribution of deep-water corals, sponges, and demersal fisheries landings in Southern California, USA: implications for conservation priorities.

ABSTRACT: Deep-sea corals in Southern California are diverse and abundant but subject to multiple stressors, including bottom-contact fisheries using mobile and fixed gear. There is a need for more information on the distribution of these taxa in relation to the distribution of demersal fishing effort, and the distribution of marine protected areas, in order to improve spatial planning. There are many marine managed areas in Southern California, including essential fish habitat (EFH) areas, conservation areas, and a national marine sanctuary, but specific areas of overlap between bottom fishing and benthic epifauna are poorly known. Groundfish surveys were conducted by the National Marine Fisheries Service using a remotely operated vehicle throughout Southern California between 2003 and 2011 to docu

SUBMITTER: Salgado EJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6186160 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature