An exposure-response methodology for assessing the impacts of bottom-fishing gear on benthic marine ecosystems

人们对评估和减轻渔具对海底的影响越来越感兴趣，因为这些栖息地在维持鱼类和贝类生产方面发挥着重要作用。不幸的是，我们对深海生态系统如何应对不同类型的捕捞干扰的认识仍然存在重大差距。由于美国、欧洲和亚洲市场的消费者和零售商对生态认证海鲜产品的需求日益增加，如果不能解决这些差距，可能会使许多加拿大的底层渔业面临失去重要出口市场的风险。渔具对海底生境影响的定量估计是生态认证评估的一个重要组成部分；然而，目前还没有进行这些评估的程序或方法，特别是在加拿大西海岸。我们建议发展一种暴露反应方法来评估底渔具对海底生境的潜在影响。我们将通过结合海底捕捞努力强度和栖息地（暴露）的空间映射以及栖息地形成物种密度（响应）的潜水调查来开发暴露-响应模型。这种方法提供了一个灵活和适应性的框架，为支持不列颠哥伦比亚省海底渔业的生态认证建立了必要的信息。此外，更好地了解海底栖息地对捕捞干扰的反应将有助于渔业设计业务变化，减少或消除这些影响。因此，加拿大和渔业将受益于更健康的生态系统和更可持续的渔业。

There is growing interest in assessing and mitigating the impacts of fishing gear on the seafloor because these habitats play an important role in maintaining fish and shellfish production. Unfortunately, major gaps still exist in our knowledge of how deep-sea ecosystems respond to different types of fishing disturbances. Failure to address these gaps may leave many Canadian bottom-fisheries at risk of losing access to important export markets in the United States, Europe, and Asia as consumers and retailers in these markets increasingly demand eco-certified seafood products. Quantitative estimates of fishing gear impacts on seafloor habitat are an important component of eco-certification assessments; however, there are no existing procedures or methods for performing these assessments, especially on Canada's west coast. We propose to develop an exposure-response approach to assessing the potential impacts of bottom-fishing gear on seafloor habitat. We will develop exposure-response models by combining spatial mapping of bottom-fishing effort intensity and habitat (the exposure) with submersible surveys of habitat-forming species density (the response). This approach provides a flexible and adaptive framework that builds the necessary information to support eco-certification of British Columbia's bottom-fisheries. In addition, a better understanding of how bottom habitat responds to fishing disturbances will help the fishing industry design operational changes that reduce or eliminate these impacts. Thus, Canada and the fishing industry will benefit from healthier ecosystems and more sustainable fisheries.