Northwest Atlantic

NAFO CEM 2019

Annex 1.E

VME Indicator Species (species listed)

Large-sized sponges (Porifera) 17 species (or spp.)

Stoney corals (Cnidaria) 4 species

Small gorgonian corals (Cnidaria) 8 species

Large gorgonian corals (Cnidaria) 18 species

Sea pens (Cnidaria)13 species

Tube-dwelling anemones (Cnidaria) 1 species

Erect bryozoans (Bryozoa) 1 species

Sea lilies (Crinoids) 3 species

Sea squirts (Chordata) 1 species

List of Physical VME Indicator Elements

Seamounts, Canyons, Knolls, Southeast shoal, Steep flanks >6.4°

Art. 22.1.

Catch per set (e.g. trawl tow, longline set, or gill net set):

sea pens 7kg, and/or

other live coral 60kg, and/or

sponges 300kg

Art. 22.2.

Report encounter. Move 2 nmiles. Temp closure outside of footprint. SC to review.

Northeast Atlantic

NEAFC Rec. 19:2014 (amended 09:2015 and 10:2018))

Annex 5

VME Habitat type (examples listed)

1. Cold-water coral reef

a. Lophelia pertusa reef (1 sp)

b. Solenosmilia variabilis reef (1 sp)

2. Coral garden

a. Hard bottom garden

i. Hard bottom gorgonian and black coral gardens (9 families)

ii. Colonial scleractinians on rocky outcrops (2 species)

iii. Non-reefal scleractinian aggregations (2 species)

b. Soft-bottom coral gardens

i. Soft-bottom gorgonian and black coral gardens (1 family)

ii. Cup-coral fields (2 families)

iii. Cauliflower coral fields (1 family)

3. Deep-sea sponge aggregations

a. Other sponge aggregations (3 families)

b. Hard-bottom sponge gardens (4 families)

c. Glass sponge communities (2 families)

4. Seapen fields (8 families)

5. Tube-dwelling anemone patches (1 family)

6. Mud- and sand-emergent fauna (5 families)

7. Bryzoan patches

Physical elements

Isolated seamounts, Steep-slopes and peaks on mid-ocean ridges, Knolls, Canyon-like features, Steep flanks ˃6.4°

Art. 9

Trawl and other fishing gears (ex-longline)

Live corals 30kg, and/or

Live sponges 400 kg

Longline

10 VME indicators per 1000 hooks (1200m line)

Art. 8

Report encounter. Move 2 nmiles. Temp closure. PECMAS to review.

Southeast Atlantic

SEAFO CM 30/15

Annex 6.1

VME Indicators listed by SC (see SEAFO SC Report, 2016 (p.36), 2017 (p. 16))

Sponges (Porifera)

Gorgonian corals (Gorgonacea)

Hydrocorals (Anthoathecatae)

Stony corals (Scleractinia)

Black corals (Anthipatharia)

Zoanthids (Zoantharia)

Soft corals (Alcyonacea)

Sea pens (Pennatulacea)

Erect bryozoans (Bryozoa)

Sea lilies (Crinoidea)

Basket stars (Ophiuroidea)

Annelida (Serpulidae)

Sea squirts (Ascidiacea)

Tube-dwelling Sea anemones (Ceriantharia)

Annex 6.2

Trawl (existing fishing area)

Live corals 60 kg

Live sponges 600 kg

Trawl (new fishing area)

Live corals 60 kg

Live sponges 400 kg

Longline and pots (all areas)

10 units (kg or litres of live corals and/or sponges) in 1200 m (1000 hooks) of line.

Art. 8.

Report encounter. Move 2 nmile (trawls) or 1 nmile (other gears). Temp closure outside footprint. Review by SC

North Pacific

NPFC CMM 2018-05

(Western)

NPFC CMM 2017-06

(Eastern)

Para. 4G (Western), Para 3g (Eastern)

cold water corals (Alcyonacea, Antipatharia, Gorgonacea, and Scleractinia)

Para. 4G (Western), Para 3j (Eastern)

Cold water corals 50kg

Para. 4G (Western), Para 3j (Eastern)

Report encounter. Move 2 nmiles.

South Pacific

SPRFMO CMM 3-2019

Annex 5

Sponges (Porifera: Demospongiae and Hexactinellidae)

Stony corals (Scleractinia: Solenosmilia; Goniocorella; Oculina; Enallopsammia; Madrepora; Lophelia)

Black corals (Antipatharia)

True soft corals (Alcyonacea: all taxa excluding Gorgonacea)

Sea fans octocorals (Informal group Gorgonacea: Holaxonia; Calaxonia; Scleraxonia)

Sea pens (Pennatulacea)

Anemones (Actiniaria)

Hydrocorals (Stylasteridae)

Annex 6A

one tow for a single VME indicator taxa

Sponges 50kg

Stony corals 250kg

Black Corals 5kg

True soft corals 60kg

Seafan octocorals 15kg

Anemones 40kg

Annex 6B

one tow for three or more different VME indicator taxa

1-5 kg per VME indicator group (seem measure for details)

Paras 26-33

Report encounter. Move 1 nmile. Temp closure. Review by SC

Southern Indian Ocean

SIOFA CMM 2018-01

Para. 6b

SIOFA asked flag States to adopt and
apply their own regulations until SIOFA
has adopted theirs.

[Note: SIOFA has developed a VME
indicator list (SC4 Report, Annex J)
which will be considered for adoption
at its 6th Meeting of Parties in July 2019]

Para. 11

SIOFA asked flag States to adopt and apply their own regulations until SIOFA has adopted theirs.

Para 12

Trawl: move 2 nmiles

Longline, trap, and other gears: Move 1 nmile

Southern Ocean

CCAMLR CM 22-07(2013)

Para. 2ii.

As in VME Taxa Classification Guide

Gorgonians (Gorgonacea: 5 families)

Hydroids (Hydroidellina)

Hydrocorals (Stylasterids)

Stony corals (Scleractinia)

Black corals (Antipatheria)

Zoanthids (Zoantharia)

Sponges (Hexactinellida, Demospongiae)

Anemones, soft corals, Sea pens (Cnideria)

Sea squirts (Ascidiacea)

Lace corals (Bryozoan)

Chemosynthetic organisms (various)

Lamp shells (Brachiopoda)

Acorn worms (Pteribranchia)

Serpulid tube worms (Serpulidae)

Zenophyophors (Zenophyophora)

Goose and acorn barnacles (Bathylasmatidae)

Antarctic scallop (Adamussium colbecki)

Sea lilies, etc (Echinoderms: 3 orders)

Para 2iv,v

10 units per line segment (Longlines: 1000-hook section or 1200m; Pots: 1200m

Para 2v

Report encounter. Move 1 nmile. Temp closure. Review by SC

Report when >=5 units encountered- report

Mediterranean

GFCM

None adopted

No thresholds adopted

No encounter protocol adopted