1. Scientific research and conservation of seamounts in the Azores and the North-East Atlantic region Seamounts’09 Workshop Exploration, Biogeosciences and Fisheries Scripps Institution of Oceanography Scripps Institution of Oceanography La Jolla, 19-21 March 2009 La Jolla, 19-21 March 2009  Ricardo Serrão Santos et al.  Departamento de Oceanografia e Pescas, Universidade dos Açores, Horta, Portugal

2. A view from the Atlantic: Our Seas in the OSPAR Area. High Seas EEZs Mean depth of the seafloor in the OSPAR regions: 2159m

4. prepared by R Medeiros ImagDOP

5. OSPAR proposed MPAs NEAFC no-trawl areas Azores no-trawl area 1.Spatially well-distributed? Alongshore: somewhat, but... Offshore: No. Far offshore: No. A look at OSPAR courtesy: Jeff Ardron, ICG-OSPAR Vilm

7. North-Eastern Atlantic and the Azores

8. Main issues: The Azores are characterized by the existence of many seamounts which harbour important fishing resources, both as resident and visitor species, and “priority conservation” invertebrate species like cold water corals and deep-sea sponges. These seamounts are important fishing areas. This area can be considered an analogy for the habitats generally found at the high seas.

9. 1,000,000 km 2 in 200 nautical miles Demersal fishing distribution (2000)

10. Not that much fish out there! Azores fishing in context

11. 5 Fishing histories Fishing patterns

12. Marine habitats of the Azores Key habitats Coastal and littoral habitats (including breeding colonies of seabirds) Seamounts Hydrothermal vents Open ocean (epipelagic – mesopelagic – bathypelagic) Santos, R. S. et al.1995 A Review of Marine Research in Relation to Conservation in the Azores – Aquatic Conservation, 5: pp. 311-354

13. FP6 - EVK3- OASIS: Oceanic Seamounts: An Integrated Study (2003-2006) Objective 1: To identify and describe the physical forcing mechanisms effecting seamount systems. Objective 2: To assess the origin, quality and dynamics of particulate organic material within the water column and surface sediment at seamounts. Objective 3: To describe aspects of the biodiversity and the ecology of seamount biota, to assess their dynamics and the maintenance of their production. Objective 4: Modelling the trophic ecology of seamount ecosystems. Objective 5: Application of scientific knowledge to practical conservation.

14. PROJECT STAGES REVIEW Review data on biology, physical processes and human exploitation of marine resources OUTLINE MANAGEMENT SHEME Initial proposals for management of the Sedlo seamount MANAGEMENT PROPOSALS First draft management scheme for Sedlo seamount

15. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

16. SEABED HABITATS Sediment Gravel, coarse sediment, or sediment and cobbles/boulders Cobbles, or sediment and bedrock Boulders or bedrock protruding through sediment overlay Bedrock, or predominately bedrock

17. WATER COLUMN

18. Benthos Total faunal abundance at each station. Faunal abundance on different habitats

19. Mammals and Seabirds

20. EXISTING ACTIVITIES

21. Goals and objectives Overall Goal:  To manage human activities around Sedlo in a way that protects its ecosystem function, biodiversity and significance as a representative example of a seamount within a network of marine protected areas in the Azores EEZ. Objectives:  To avoid disruption of the natural processes which support the form and function of the Sedlo ecosystem.  To maintain and, where appropriate, enhance the biodiversity of Sedlo and its surrounding waters  To ensure that the role of Sedlo as a spawning and nursery ground is not compromised.  To use Sedlo as a ‘flagship’ site to promote the conservation of offshore areas in the Azores  To provide opportunities for research and education consistent with the conservation of the natural resources of Sedlo  To use Sedlo as a representative example of a seamount ecosystem within a network of marine protected areas in the Azores EEZ and in the northeast Atlantic

22. BOUNDARIES Option 1. Straight line boundaries enclosing main zone of influence as indicated by modelling of currents

25. 545,310 km 2 Management of the Deep-sea The Azores: A North-Eastern Atlantic case on the New European Maritime Policy Lucky Strike: 1700 m Area = 192.1 km2

26. Achievements and Drawbacks in the Azores Environment Achievements –Establishment of MPAs initiated in 1980 –Well established Observers Program of the Fisheries of the Azores (since 1998) –Several regulations on fisheries based on spatial planning and regulation of fishing technologies –Declaration of intention of protection of deep-sea hydrothermal vents (2002) –Conclusion of the management plans for the Natura 2000 network (1998- 2005) –Proposal of 7 sites (of which 4 deep-sea) for the OSPAR network of MPAs (1 in 2005, 5 in Oct 2006, 1 in November 2007) –Submission of two deep-sea vent fields to be part of new Natura 2000 network – EC regulation on ban of deep sea trawls and other deep-sea nets (2005) –Conclusion of a new proposal for the classification of the Sedlo seamount as a MPA (2006) –New framework Regional Decree for the Network of MPAs (2007) Problems and Drawbacks –Regional Level: Delay on the effective implementation and regulation of the MPAs and lack of proper enforcement of inspection of the existing ones what make some paper MPAs. –European Level: The CFP has conducted to the increase in 430% the fishing fleet dedicated to swordfish between the 100 and the 200 NM lines of the Azorean EEZ with undetermined negative impacts in target (tuna like fish) and non-target species like sea-turtles and pelagic sharks.

27. ENV.2008.2.2.1.2 Deep-sea ecosystems HERMIONE - Hotspot Ecosystem Research and Man’s Impact on European Seas

29. Observatory for long-term study and monitoring of Azorean seamount ecosystems - CONDOR The project CONDOR aims to: describe and analyse the biodiversity of the Condor seamount increase the knowledge of biological and physical processes occurring at the seamounts enhance the quality of advice for the management of seamount areas promote general public awareness on marine conservation and sustainable development this project will establish an underwater observatory at the Condor seamount, supported by advanced technology partners co-financed by Aberdeen Oceanlab

30. Condor de Terra seamount Resolution: 10m (depth<400m) 20m (depth 400 to 1800m). depth 160 to 1000m

31. Condor de Terra - summit Confirmed coral gardens (Viminella flagellum+Dentomuricea sp.)

32. Condor de Terra - summit Confirmed coral gardens

33. Condor de Terra – summit (depth: 200-300m) Confirmed coral gardens (Dentomuricea sp.)

34. Condor de Terra – flanks (at 700m) EMEPC 2008 mission Confirmed sponge aggregations

35. A permanent observatory on the Condor seamount? representative of Azorean seamount ecosystems small size, allowing a thoroughly sampling over the different habitats depth range (180 to > 1000 m) covers a good range of different biological communities close to Fayal, therefore easily accessible for periodical sampling and control well known fishing ground and identifiable stakeholders closed to professional fishing during project implementation

36. - At present we have: - Ears – cetaceans sounds acquire - Receivers VEMCO – electronic fish tags - Oceanography – Permanent moorings / Satellite images and normal equipments CTD’s, Roset, etc - Geology / Habitat mapping: Multibeam, Sidescan, Box-corers (point samping) - Advanced observational technology: 1 - ROV’s Seabotix (250m) 2 – ROV LUSO (6000 m) 3 – Visual lander will be build (similar to ROBIO of the OceanLab) 4 – A Norwegian Acoustic lander 5 – Submersible LULA – to be confirmed

37.  MADE : Mitigating Adverse Ecological Impacts of Open Ocean Fisheries. FP7-KBBE-2007-1: 210496.  TRACE : Cetacean habitat associations in oceanic ecosystems: an integrated approach. FCT/PTDC/MAR/74071/2006.

38. Biotelemetry applied to management of seamount fishes Question: What is the role of MAR seamounts for the life history of fishes accross contrasting taxa and ecologies? Approach: simultaneously monitor the behaviour of diverse taxa when they converge to exploit habitat “ hot spots ” by using appropriate tracking technology.

39. Formigas shallow bank Marine Reserve: an oasis for migratory reef predators? (passive) acoustic telemetry protocol

40. Princesa Alice seamount complex: island-seamount habitat inter-dependence? (pasive) deep-water acoustic telemetry & Standard tagging protocols

41. Large-scale Oceanic Migrants the Azores seamounts as a reserve? Satellite & acoustic telemetry protocols

42. An integrated approach to study cetacean habitat associations in oceanic ecosystems Monitoring cetacean year-round occurrence using passive acoustics Condor Seamount Open ocean Day Night Dynamics of DSL around seamounts Studying foraging behavior with Time Depth Recorders Investigating large-scale movements: satellite telemetry

43. Relationship with oceanic islands and seamounts Monitoring cetacean year-round occurrence using passive acoustics Ecological Acoustic Recorders (EARs): Sensor Technology SQ26-01 hydrophone 4 EARs: 2 shallow-water (~35 m) + 2 deep-water (~190 m)

44. Studying foraging behavior with Time-Depth-Recorders Wildlife Computers Mk9 attached with suction cups Relationship with oceanic islands and seamounts

45. Large-scale movement patters across the NA Investigating large-scale movements through satellite tagging Wildlife Computers SPOT5 satellite tag deployed with ARTS gun

46. Pedro Afonso – Fish Biotelemetry (Researcher) Marina Carreiro e Silva – Corals, Bioerosion (Post-Doc) Irma Cascão – Cetacean, Spatial distribution, Hydrophone arrays (PhD Student) Eva Giacomello – Biology, Fisheries (Post-Doc) Andreia Henriques – Corals, Taxonomy, Distribution (PhD Student) Maria Magalhães – Large pelagic seabirds (Post-Doc) Gui Menezes – Fisheries, Ecology (Researcher) Telmo Morato – Fisheries, Ecosystems, Management (Researcher) Filipe Porteiro – Taxonomy (Researcher) Rui Prieto – Cetacean, Biotelemetry (PhD Student) Mónica Silva – Cetacean ecology and distribution (Post-Doc) Sergio Stefanni – Genetics, Deepsea fish (Researcher) Fréderic Vandeperre – Large pelagic fish (PhD Student) Fernando Tempera – Mapping, Management (Post-Doc) Chemosynthetic environments - HTV Raul Bettencourt – Biological capacities, Imunology, Genetics (Researcher) Ana Colaço – Trophic Ecology, Management (Researcher) Daphne Cuvelier – Faunal distribution, Video analysys (PhD Student) Virginie Riou – Trophic ecology, Carbon assimilation, Isotops (PhD Student) Inês Martins – Ecotoxicology (PhD Student) Acknowledgments - DOP’s Seamounts Team