VME indicators, thresholds and encounter responses adopted by R(F)MOs in force during 2019.
The table provides summary information taken from the R(F)MO measures which should be consulted for clarification and further details.
Source | VME indicators | Threshold (for 2019) | Encounter response |
---|---|---|---|
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 [Note: SIOFA has developed a VME
| 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 |