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1 1.10 Application of estuarine and coastal classifications in marine ...

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effects <strong>of</strong> fish<strong>in</strong>g may <strong>in</strong>clude bycatch <strong>and</strong> discard<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> nontarget fish species, bycatch <strong>of</strong><br />

mar<strong>in</strong>e mammals <strong>and</strong> seabirds, <strong>and</strong> particularly with bottom trawl<strong>in</strong>g, mechanical disturbance<br />

<strong>and</strong> damage to benthic communities. Broad scale assessment <strong>of</strong> fish<strong>in</strong>g impacts requires a<br />

detailed underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> the spatial <strong>and</strong> temporal variability <strong>in</strong> fish<strong>in</strong>g pressure across multiple<br />

spatial scales (Jenn<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>and</strong> Cotter 1999, Stelzenmüller et al. 2008, Pederson et al 2009) (Figure<br />

13). Spatial data represent<strong>in</strong>g fish<strong>in</strong>g pressure <strong>and</strong> impacts play a critical role when objectives<br />

are to m<strong>in</strong>imiz<strong>in</strong>g conflict with compet<strong>in</strong>g sectors <strong>and</strong> reduc<strong>in</strong>g the overall economic cost to<br />

fishers <strong>of</strong> any MPA network configuration (Lynch, 2006, Leathwick et al. 2008).<br />

Rarely are the spatial patterns <strong>of</strong> fish<strong>in</strong>g pressure quantitatively mapped <strong>and</strong> analyzed <strong>in</strong><br />

relation to mar<strong>in</strong>e benthic habitats, yet the newly available mar<strong>in</strong>e <strong>classifications</strong> now facilitate<br />

such an approach. For example, Stelzenmüller et al. (2008) calculated the proportion <strong>of</strong> each<br />

seascape class fished, us<strong>in</strong>g a classified seascape map together with fish<strong>in</strong>g vessel locations over<br />

time acquired with a long-term vessel monitor<strong>in</strong>g system (VMS). The results revealed that<br />

seascapes with coarse or mixed sediments <strong>and</strong> weak or moderate tide stress were heavily fished.<br />

Seascapes experienced different <strong>in</strong>tensities <strong>of</strong> fish<strong>in</strong>g pressure depend<strong>in</strong>g on their spatial location<br />

<strong>in</strong> UK <strong>of</strong>fshore waters <strong>and</strong> the regional heterogeneity <strong>of</strong> seascape types (Figure 14). Descriptions<br />

<strong>of</strong> the spatial distribution <strong>of</strong> fish<strong>in</strong>g pressures can also be l<strong>in</strong>ked to the sensitivity <strong>of</strong> the benthic<br />

environments. The patch<strong>in</strong>ess <strong>of</strong> fish<strong>in</strong>g activity, <strong>and</strong> the consistency with which fish<strong>in</strong>g<br />

occurred <strong>in</strong> the same regions year on year provides valuable <strong>in</strong>formation for the selection <strong>of</strong> the<br />

spatial extent <strong>of</strong> mar<strong>in</strong>e plann<strong>in</strong>g units.<br />

<strong>1.10</strong>.5.3 Exam<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g Conflicts between Fish<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> Conservation <strong>in</strong> the German North Sea<br />

40

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