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CBD

Distr.GENERAL

CBD/SBSTTA/24/INF/311 June 2020

ENGLISH ONLY

SUBSIDIARY BODY ON SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE

Twenty-fourth meetingVenue and dates to be determinedItem 6 of the provisional agenda*

Synthesis of submissions on experiences for the implementation of the voluntary specific workplan on biodiversity in cold-water areas within the jurisdictional scope of the Convention on

Biological DiversityNote by the Executive Secretary

1. In decision XIII/11, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted the voluntary specific workplan on biodiversity in cold-water areas within the jurisdictional scope of the Convention (as contained in annex II to the decision), and encouraged Parties, other Governments and competent intergovernmental organizations, where applicable, within their respective jurisdictions and mandates and in accordance with national circumstances, to implement the activities contained in the workplan.

2. In the same decision, the Conference of the Parties requested the Executive Secretary, in collaboration with Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations, to facilitate, promote and support the implementation of the workplan and the sharing of information on experiences and lessons learned from the implementation of the workplan.

3. On 27 September 2018, the Secretariat of the Convention issued notification 2018-080, which invited Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations to submit information on experiences related to the implementation of (a) the priority actions to achieve Aichi Biodiversity Target 10 for coral reefs and closely associated ecosystems, (b) the voluntary specific workplan on biodiversity in cold-water areas within the jurisdictional scope of the Convention, and (b) the voluntary practical guidance on preventing and mitigating the impacts of marine debris on marine and coastal biodiversity and habitats.

4. The following is a brief synthesis of the information contained in the submissions addressing the voluntary specific workplan on biodiversity in cold-water areas within the jurisdictional scope of the Convention.

* CBD/SBSTTA/24/1.

https://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2018/ntf-2018-080-marine-en.pdf

https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-13/cop-13-dec-11-en.pdf

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Synthesis of Submissions on Experiences for the Implementationof the Voluntary Specific Workplan on Biodiversity in Cold-water Areas within the Jurisdictional

Scope of the Convention on Biological Diversity1

1. INTRODUCTION

In decision XIII/11, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted the voluntary specific workplan on biodiversity in cold-water areas within the jurisdictional scope of the Convention (as contained in an annex to the decision), and encouraged Parties, other Governments and competent intergovernmental organizations, where applicable, within their respective jurisdictions and mandates and in accordance with national circumstances, to implement the activities contained in the workplan. In the same decision, the Conference of the Parties requested the Executive Secretary, in collaboration with Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations, to facilitate, promote and support the implementation of the workplan and the sharing of information on experiences and lessons learned from the implementation of the workplan.

The objectives of the workplan in decision XIII/11 (annex II, section 4) are to:

(a) Avoid, minimize and mitigate the impacts of global and local stressors, and especially the combined and cumulative effects of multiple stressors;

(b) Maintain and enhance the resilience of ecosystems in cold-water areas in order to contribute to the achievement of Aichi Biodiversity Targets 10, 11 and 15, and thereby enable the continued provisioning of goods and services;

(c) Identify and protect refugia sites and areas capable of acting as refugia sites, and adopt, as appropriate, other area-based conservation measures, in order to enhance the adaptive capacity of cold-water ecosystems;

(d) Enhance understanding of ecosystems in cold-water areas, including by improving the ability to predict the occurrence of species and habitats and to understand their vulnerability to different types of stressors as well as to the combined and cumulative effects of multiple stressors; and

(e) Enhance international and regional cooperation in support of national implementation, building on existing international and regional initiatives and creating synergies with various relevant areas of work within the Convention.

The following is a brief synthesis of the information submitted in response to notification 2018-080 with respect to the voluntary specific workplan on biodiversity in cold-water areas within the jurisdictional scope of the Convention. Responses were received from Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Norway, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC), the South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (SEAFO) and the ATLAS (A Transatlantic Assessment and Deep-water Ecosystem-based Spatial Management Plan for Europe) Project. Although the number of submissions received is too small to lead to any universal conclusion, and these responses also provide different degrees of detail, the submissions provide valuable information different types of actions taken by Parties and relevant organizations.

In general, the submissions included elements regarding legislation, policies and management plans, specific measures taken as well as tools, guidance and other relevant scientific and technical information. In some cases, the information provided indicates specific measures taken to selected parts of the workplan or is less specific, broadly addressing the key activities of the workplan.

1 An overview provided by independent consultant Simon Harding, as commissioned by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

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In terms of spatial coverage, most submissions were addressing the North Atlantic Ocean, with some others addressing the South Atlantic and the Eastern Pacific. None of the submissions provided information for the Western Pacific or Indian Oceans.

A summary of submitted responses is organized according to the six main activities listed in the cold-water biodiversity workplan and divided into two parts for action at the national (section 2) and regional (section 3) level. Some of the activities listed were implemented prior to the development of the workplan but directly support the objectives and actions of the workplan. A checklist summarizing the responses according to the workplan activities is provided by table 1. Details of the responses submitted are provided in the annex to the present document.

2. ACTION AND OUTCOMES AT NATIONAL LEVEL

There was a range of responses from Parties, with some focusing on one or two activities within the workplan, while others covered a broader range of activities (table 1). The level of detail in the responses also varied in that some Parties provided information on experiences with respect to specific points within an activity in the workplan while others provided broader, less specific information in relation to a whole group of activities. Overall, most of the activities within the workplan were covered in the submissions by the Parties to some extent. However, a few activities were not mentioned in any of the responses, which were concerned with: coordination at the national or subnational level (5.1e); the monitoring of carbonate conditions (5.4d); developing research coordination strategies (5.5b) and setting up finance schemes for stressor management (5.6b).

2.1 Assessment and development of policies, strategies and programme

Comprehensive national policies that include the management of cold-water biodiversity are in place in some countries that responded but were not mentioned by others. However, this does not mean that such policies do not exist, but they may have not been reported on for the recent notification. For those that directly responded for activity 5.1, Norway has three comprehensive management plans in place that cover different parts of its national waters. These plans include the assessment of both local and cumulative stressors as well as long-term climate related impacts on cold-water biodiversity. These plans were in operation prior to the implementation of the workplan. The United Kingdom (UK) has a more recent policy, the 25 Year Environment Plan, that was published in 2018 and under implementation. This covers the marine environment in UK waters as well as the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) and includes cold-water biodiversity, mainly for national waters.

2.2 Strengthening management to address stressors

Countries are tackling a number of stressors on cold-water biodiversity within their jurisdictions. Some responses reported addressing adverse impacts of unsustainable fishing through the implementation of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) guidelines for deep water fisheries (Norway) or European Commission guidelines for fishing below 800 metres depth (UK). Fisheries co-management plans incorporating an ecosystem-based approach have also been developed (Colombia). The potential effects of invasive species on cold-water biodiversity are being assessed and national ballast water strategies have been reviewed (Ecuador). Effects of hydrocarbon extraction on cold-water biodiversity are under consideration through the development of toxicity protocols for hydrocarbon effluent effects on marine life (Colombia). The potential impacts of industrial activities on cold-water biodiversity are also assessed and managed through the use of environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and marine licensing systems (Norway and UK).

2.3 Developing marine protected areas and marine spatial planning

The development of marine protected areas (MPAs) and marine spatial planning for the management of cold-water biodiversity is well established in most of the countries that made submissions. A deep water

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coral national park was declared in 2013 in Colombia by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (Resolution No. 0339). As well as existing MPAs in territorial waters that include cold-water biodiversity, there are commitments by some Parties to increase the coverage, such as the commitment of the Scottish Government to establish a new deep-sea marine reserve by 2020. Mapping of marine habitats to identify sensitive areas is part of the MAREANO project2 in Norway where data will feed into improving spatial management plans for Norwegian Seas. The criteria used for defining these areas are very similar to those used to define ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs).

2.4 Improving research and monitoring of cold-water biodiversity

The submissions received indicate that research programmes are underway in some countries to collect baseline information on cold-water biodiversity. This can be either as direct biodiversity-based research to comprehensively document species and habitat distributions (Canada, Norway-MAREANO) or as baseline surveys prior to potential hydrocarbon extraction (Colombia). A new marine biodiversity strategy has been developed in the UK, which includes the assessment of stressor effects, long-term drivers such as climate change and also the effectiveness of management measures for cold-water biodiversity. Modelling of species and habitat distribution, their connectivity and the provision of ecosystem services in the face of climate change are also key areas under investigation (Canada), which also sit within regional research programmes such as ATLAS3 (see section 3).

2.5 Improving coordination, collaboration and public awareness

Examples of collaborative research projects or programmes between national institutions were provided by a number of countries. Collaboration and coordination at the regional level was also reported for the North Atlantic and the South East Pacific by Canada (ATLAS) and Colombia (SPINCAM4) respectively. Collaboration at the national level is well established in Norway for the development of spatial management plans that involves multiple sectors and stakeholders. Providing public access to data collected by Parties is one approach to increase public knowledge and awareness of cold-water biodiversity at the national level. For example, all benthic data collected in UK waters is publicly shared through the online marine recorder database.

2.6 Sustainable financing

There were a few submissions by Parties for selected aspects of the sustainable financing activities within the workplan. These were related to the provision of funding through existing national funding systems (e.g. the Norwegian Research Council) or looking into the potential for a “Natural Environment Impact Fund” as part of the UK’s Environment Plan.

3. ACTION AND OUTCOMES IN REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS OR PROGRAMMES

Submissions were received from two regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs): the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) and the South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (SEAFO). These focus on preventing or restricting fishing in areas where cold-water biodiversity is known or thought to occur through the designation of vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) and the implementation of procedures to manage fishing in these areas. Both RFMOs have implemented conservation measures and protocols to prevent or minimize damage to cold-water biodiversity, mainly through preventing destructive fishing practices and establishing no-fishing areas where VMEs are known to occur. These actions fall mainly under Activities 5.2 and 5.3 of the workplan. NEAFC is also involved in regional collaboration through a collective arrangement with OSPAR with the aim to increase this

2 http://www.mareano.no/en.3 A Transatlantic Assessment and Deep-water Ecosystem-based Spatial Management Plan for Europe.4 South Pacific Information and Data Network.

http://www.mareano.no/en

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further and involve other bodies such as the International Seabed Authority (ISA) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in future. This activity falls under part 5.5 of the workplan. The final submission was from a regional research programme in the North Atlantic, A Transatlantic Assessment and Deep-water Ecosystem-based Spatial Management Plan for Europe (ATLAS).

From the submissions received, the most thorough implementation of the workplan for cold-water biodiversity has been through the ATLAS programme. This comprehensive programme has tackled all the main aspects of the workplan for cold-water biodiversity and appears to be well aligned with the workplan objectives and structure. Within each of the six main activities in the workplan (5.1-5.6), the ATLAS programme has responded to almost all the individual points for action. Activities have been focused on conducting research at a basin-wide scale to develop appropriate spatial management. This has included numerous deep water surveys to collect baseline information on cold-water biodiversity and also the modelling of various aspects of short- and long-term stressors effects on these ecosystems. For example, as part of activities within 5.2-5.4, basin-scale habitat suitability maps were developed for 12 species of cold-water corals and commercially important fish under current and future environmental conditions in support of an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries to help identify areas where VMEs may be located, and which is more adaptive of climate change. The ATLAS programme has also conducted assessments on the socioeconomic implications of management of cold-water biodiversity areas and the pressures on these areas. One example is the Azores ATLAS Case Study where a study of people’s perceptions and attitudes towards deep sea environmental issues and potential conservation approaches was conducted. Further multiple examples are provided in the annex below.

4. CONCLUSIONS

Even though the sample of submissions cannot be considered as a representative sample of all Parties and relevant stakeholders, it reveals a large range of actions, in terms of management frameworks and measures as well as previous and ongoing research programmes.

The submissions differ in comprehensiveness and detail, and this may reflect differences in the degree of advancement of the workplan and its implementation. Some submissions described actions related to cold-water biodiversity that were implemented prior to the development of the workplan but are ongoing and support the activities of the plan. The ATLAS project in the North Atlantic provides a good example of a comprehensive regional programme that is generating information to support the current and future management of cold-water biodiversity. At the national level, Norway provides an example for ways to develop spatial management approaches that consider cold-water biodiversity.

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Table 1. Summary of Submissions on the Implementation of the Voluntary Specific Workplan on Biodiversity in Cold-water Areas

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Annex

COMPILATION OF SUBMISSIONS RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO NOTIFICATION 2018-080Submitter Alignment with cold-water biodiversity

workplanSpecific measures/actions described in submission

PARTIES AND OTHER GOVERNMENTS

Canada Annex II: Activity 5.4:(a) Improve knowledge of biodiversity in cold-water areas, including species identification, species distribution, community composition and taxonomic standardization, to provide baseline information for assessing the effects of climate change and other human-induced stressors

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) conducted a research programme in the Eastern Canadian Arctic to improve knowledge of sponge biodiversity in that region:

Total of 2,026 sponge specimens examined 93 taxa identified with 79% to the species level

Two species new to science 16 new records for the Northwest Atlantic 10 new records for the Baffin Bay, Davis Strait and Hudson Strait sponge fauna Five sponge species assemblages identified providing baseline data Four papers and reports published for the study in 2017-2018

In 2012-2013 DFO conducted benthic imagery surveys in the Davis Strait and Baffin Basin in two areas then closed to bottom fishing:

Areas are now called the Hatton Basin Conservation Area and part of the Disko Fan Conservation Area

Photo transects established as a long-term monitoring programme to monitor the impact of human activity (including climate change) on the region’s benthic marine biota in accordance with the protocols of the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program established by the Council of Arctic Flora and Fauna

Identified 480 taxa, with 280 of these belonging to 10 phyla (Annelida, Arthropoda, Brachiopoda, Bryozoa, Chordata, Cnidaria, Echinodermata, Mollusca, Nemertea, and Porifera)

Serves as a baseline for epibenthic fauna in the Disko Fan C.A. And as a taxonomic resource for future analyses

Research studies in other areas that contribute new information: Discovery of a Lophelia pertusa coral reef in Greenlandic waters Glass sponges reefs in the Salish Sea, Pacific Ocean Benthic communities on Cobb Seamount, Northeast Pacific Ocean Glass sponges grounds and benthic invertebrates on the Scotian Shelf Meso- and bathypelagic fish in the Gully (canyon) on the Scotian Shelf Sea pen studies in the Gulf of St. Lawrence

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Submitter Alignment with cold-water biodiversity workplan

Specific measures/actions described in submission

Annex II: Activity 5.4(e) Develop or expand upon predictive model research to determine how projected climate change will impact cold-water biodiversity over different time scales

Annex III: 1.Improve knowledge of biodiversity in cold-water areas to provide baseline information used for assessing the effects of climate change and other human-induced stressors

Annex III: 5Develop or expand upon predictive model

Epibenthic fauna on sponge grounds of the Sackville Spur, Northwest Atlantic (High Seas, NAFO regulatory area)

Vulnerable marine ecosystem modelling studies in the northwest Atlantic Epibenthic assemblages of the Tail of the Grand Bank and Flemish Cap (northwest

Atlantic) Deep-sea sponge grounds and biodiversity/bottom fishing interactions on Flemish

Cap (northwest Atlantic) Sponge grounds as key marine habitats (global synthetic review – book chapter)

Extensive review of environmental data layers was undertaken in preparation for species distribution modelling of sensitive benthic areas in Canadian waters:

This work has been used to support Canada’s Policy for managing the impacts of fishing on sensitive benthic areas

Fourteen publications and technical reports produced between 2016-2018 As partners in the EU Horizon 2020 funded project ATLAS, Canada has provided data on

a variety of species in support of basin-scale modelling efforts Canada also co-organized and sponsored a workshop on the “Use of Species Distribution

Modelling in the Deep Sea”: May 17-18, 2018 (CBD Secretariat, Montreal) Species and habitat distribution models have also been developed in the Pacific Region

such as for Learmonth Bank, northern British Columbia.

Research conducted since 2015 addresses improved knowledge in the following areas for annex III:

(1.1) Support research on biodiversity in cold-water areas to fill in gaps in fundamental knowledge of species identification, species distribution and community composition, including taxonomic standardization;

(1.2) Identify key habitat providers and their functional role within ecosystems to understand which organisms may be a priority in conservation and management;

(5) Develop or expand upon predictive model research to determine how projected climate change will impact cold-water biodiversity over different time scales

Research is now focusing on connectivity analyses, identification and mapping of ecosystem services and evaluating climate change impacts. For example:

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research to determine how projected climate change will impact cold-water biodiversity over different time scales

Johnson, D. & E. Kenchington. Should potential for climate change refugia be considered as an eighth criterion for describing EBSAs? Conservation Letters (under review).

Colombia Annex II: Activity 5.2:

(a) Strengthen fisheries management approaches, including the application of the ecosystem approach to fisheries, at national and regional scales, including through regional fishery bodies, to address unsustainable fishing practices, including overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices, and ensure effective enforcement, using relevant guidelines of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, such as the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and the International Guidelines for the Management of Deep-sea Fisheries in the High Seas

(b) Avoid, minimize and mitigate land-based and sea-based pollution, deoxygenation and introduction of invasive alien species through ballast water and biofouling to prevent adverse impacts on cold-water ecosystems and species, including through the implementation of instruments, tools and guidelines by the International Maritime Organization and other relevant global and regional organizations

Review of the legal and institutional framework for fishing as part of the REILC IILAC research project:

Assessment of incidental catches (by-catch) Preliminary co-management plan developed based on an ecosystem approach to

fisheries

The Fisheries Research Program, established in 2016, combines scientific, technological, administrative, logistical and financial cooperation efforts between the national aquaculture and fisheries authorities. The programme conducts research on demersal and pelagic resources collecting independent data for the fisheries. Activities have included:

Research for the potential development of deep-water shrimp fisheries using new responsible management strategies (Colombian Pacific)

Research of the potential fishery for large pelagic species (Colombian Caribbean and Pacific)

Information collected on the species of phytoplankton and zooplankton, bacteria and water quality parameters occurring in ballast water of cargo ships docking in Santa Marta Bay.

Protocols developed to assess toxicity of hydrocarbon offshore exploration effluents to marine organisms in Colombian waters.

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(c) Avoid, minimize or mitigate adverse impacts related to hydrocarbon extraction in areas that are known to contain cold-water coral and sponge reefs and other sensitive cold-water biodiversity

Annex II: Activity 5.3(a) Increase spatial coverage and management effectiveness of marine protected areas and other area-based conservation measures in cold-water areas

(b) Identify and prioritize, as appropriate, in conservation, protection and management approaches, specific types of cold-water areas, such as:Healthy cold-water coral reefs, sponge reefs and other cold-water marine ecosystems, in order to prevent their degradation by human-induced stressors

Annex II: Activity 5.4:(a) Improve knowledge of biodiversity in cold-water areas, including species identification, species distribution, community composition and taxonomic standardization, to provide baseline

Baseline assessment of deep-water coral communities (and potential fishery resources) in exploration blocks located in the south-western area of Isla Fuerte and Alta Guajira, Caribbean Colombia (2011-2013).

Deep-water corals identified by research on the San Bernardo Archipelago Technical proposal to declare protected areas (natural national park) prepared in

collaboration with industry sector in 2008 Declaration of deep-water coral natural national park in 2013 by Ministry of Environment

and Sustainable Development (Resolution No. 0339)

Deep-water coral habitats in the protected area assessed in terms of the main characteristics (geological, biological, ecological) and conservation status.

Baseline studies conducted throughout Caribbean Colombia to 4200 m depth as part of hydrocarbon assessments covering sediments, microbes, benthos, plankton and pelagic resources. These provide an environmental characterization of deep-water habitats for use in management and conservation planning

Studies conducted in Jamaica-Colombia common regime area as a contribution to the sustainable use of shared marine resources

Characterizing seascape units to 1000 m depth to provide conservation guidelines for environmental decision makers

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information for assessing the effects of climate change and other human-induced stressors

Annex II: Activity 5.5:(a) Develop research collaboration as part of national programmes, including sharing of information relevant to cold-water biodiversity and opportunities for scientific collaboration and capacity-building, addressing the research needs identified in annex III

Atlas Marino del Caribe Phase 2 (CMA2) – GIS support to improve ICZM in 10 Caribbean pilot countries.

South Pacific Information and Data Network (SPINCAM) – develop a harmonized marine and coastal management framework for countries in the South-east Pacific as well as appropriate tools to apply ecosystem approach in national waters and planning sustainable economic development at the regional level through institutional capacity building.

Ecuador Annex II: Activity 5.2:(b) Avoid, minimize and mitigate land-based and sea-based pollution, deoxygenation and introduction of invasive alien species through ballast water and biofouling to prevent adverse impacts on cold-water ecosystems and species, including through the implementation of instruments, tools and guidelines by the International Maritime Organization and other relevant global and regional organizations

Ecuador is currently reviewing the National Ballast Water Strategy with the objective of avoiding the introduction of invasive alien species by means of ballast water and biological contamination in order to avoid adverse effects marine ecosystems including cold-water biodiversity.

Norway Annex II: Activity 5.1:(a) Integrate issues related to biodiversity in cold-water areas into national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs)

(b) Assess the management and regulatory actions in place nationally and regionally

The three integrated management plans for Norwegian sea areas5 are good examples of how ecosystem-based management have strengthened sectorial and cross-sectorial management of cold-water coral reefs and other cold-water/deep sea habitats including addressing local and cumulative stressors on cold-water biodiversity.

5 https://www.regjeringen.no/en/topics/climate-and-environment/biodiversity/innsiktsartikler-naturmangfold/forvaltningsplaner-for-havomrada/id2076485/.

https://www.regjeringen.no/en/topics/climate-and-environment/biodiversity/innsiktsartikler-naturmangfold/forvaltningsplaner-for-havomrada/id2076485/

https://www.regjeringen.no/en/topics/climate-and-environment/biodiversity/innsiktsartikler-naturmangfold/forvaltningsplaner-for-havomrada/id2076485/

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to address the combined and cumulative effects of multiple stressors on cold-water biodiversity, and develop and enhance national mechanisms for inter-agency coordination and collaboration in implementing cross-sectoral regulatory approaches, including the consolidation of existing national initiatives

(c) Assess the degree to which local stressors (such as destructive fishing practices, marine mining, hydrocarbon exploitation, anthropogenic underwater noise, shipping, pollution and bioprospecting) are addressed by existing sectoral regulations, and adjust regulatory frameworks to address these stressors, where appropriate.

(d) Integrate long-term climate-related impacts on cold-water biodiversity into the assessment of local stressors

Annex II: Activity 5.2:(a) Strengthen fisheries management approaches, including the application of the ecosystem approach to fisheries, at national and regional scales, including through regional fishery bodies,…

(b) Avoid, minimize and mitigate land-based and sea-based pollution, deoxygenation and introduction of

Relevant local stressors on cold-water biodiversity are being assessed as part of the implementation of the three integrated management plans for Norwegian sea areas, and includes sectoral regulations

Long-term climate-related impacts on cold-water biodiversity are being integrated into the assessment of local stressors as part of the implementation of the three integrated management plans for Norwegian sea areas

The FAO guidelines are implemented at national level. Decisions taken in RFMOs are implemented in national regulations applying to Norwegian vessels when fishing on the high seas.

General work is being undertaken to avoid/minimize land based and sea based pollution. The IMO ballast water convention is implemented in national legislation

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invasive alien species through ballast water and biofouling to prevent adverse impacts on cold-water ecosystems and species, including through the implementation of instruments, tools and guidelines by the International Maritime Organization and other relevant global and regional organizations


(e) Avoid, minimize or mitigate impacts from undersea cables in areas that are known or highly likely to contain vulnerable cold-water coral and sponge reefs.

Annex II: Activity 5.3:(a) Increase spatial coverage and management effectiveness of marine protected areas and other area-based conservation measures in cold-water areas

(b) Identify and prioritize, as appropriate, in conservation, protection and management approaches, specific types of cold-water areas

A systematic approach to activities related to hydrocarbon extraction is included in the management system (EIA). Particular sensitive and valuable areas are described (SVO) in the management plans for the Norwegian sea areas and regulations concerning hydrocarbon extractions are defined in some of these areas.

Environmental impact assessments will be conducted.

A process is underway to establish MPAs and other area-based conservation measures.

Mapping of marine habitats is underway in Norwegian sea areas (MAREANO project). The results from the mapping are being, and will be used when establishing other area-based conservation measures and MPAs. Particular sensitive and vulnerable sea areas (SVO) are described in the integrated management plans for Norwegian sea areas based on among other information the results from the MAREANO project. The criteria used for defining these areas are very similar to the EBSA-criteria.

http://www.mareano.no/en

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Annex II: Activity 5.4:(a) Improve knowledge of biodiversity in cold-water areas, including species identification, species distribution, community composition and taxonomic standardization, to provide baseline information for assessing the effects of climate change and other human-induced stressors

(c) Improve understanding of how climate change, acidification and other human-induced stressors will impact the physiology, health and long-term viability of cold-water organisms, habitats and ecosystems

Annex II: Activity 5.5:(a) Develop research collaboration as part of national programmes, including sharing of information relevant to cold-water biodiversity and opportunities for scientific collaboration and capacity-building

(c) Improve knowledge-sharing among various actors and provide opportunities for participation in assessment, monitoring and research

The knowledge base is being improved through the MAREANO project, which maps depth and topography, sediment composition, contaminants, biotopes and habitats in Norwegian waters. The results of the surveys are available on the MAREANO website (http://www.mareano.no/en), and visualized through maps.

Part of the MAREANO project to some degree.

In the process of developing the scientific basis for management plans in Norwegian sea areas, cross-sectoral work and cooperation between several relevant institutes is a principle. The MAREANO project is also based on cooperation between institutes and different sectors.

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(e) Collaborate with indigenous peoples and local communities, fishers, civil society and the general public to improve information available for assessment, monitoring and validation of predictive models, including through the application of traditional knowledge, fisher’s knowledge and citizen science

(f) Raise awareness among policymakers of key scientific findings related to cold-water biodiversity, and facilitate the incorporation of the activities of this workplan into relevant national strategies and action plans, as well as relevant research and monitoring programmes at the global, regional and national levels

Annex II: Activity 5.6:(c) Remove key bottlenecks and improve access to funding through capacity-building and streamlining of funding processes

The involvement of relevant stakeholders is a part of the process with the scientific basis for the management plans.

In developing the scientific basis for the management plans, awareness will be raised as a part of this process,

Norway has well-coordinated national systems for funding, particularly through the Norwegian Research Council.

United Kingdom of

Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Annex II: Activity 5.1Assess needs and develop integrated policies, strategies and programmes related to biodiversity in cold-water areas

The UK’s 25 Year Environment Plan (YEP), published in January 2018, sets out the action of the UK Government to “help the natural world regain and retain good health”. The goals within the YEP cover the sustainable use of marine resources and the conservation of the marine environment as well as waste minimization. They are closely aligned with the SDGs including SDG 14 for the oceans. THE UK will use its influence to build support for an ambitious post-2020 international biodiversity strategy and play an active role in securing a new international agreement for the conservation and sustainable use of marine areas beyond national jurisdiction.

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Annex II: Activity 5.2Strengthen existing sectoral and cross-sectoral management to address stressors on cold-water biodiversity, including from overfishing and destructive fishing practices, pollution, shipping, seabed mining, (by taking the following actions, as appropriate), and in accordance with national and international laws and circumstances(responses mainly addressing parts (a), (c) and (e))

Annex II: Activity 5.3Develop and apply marine protected areas and marine spatial planning in order to reduce the impacts of local stressors, and especially the combined and cumulative effects of multiple stressors, on cold-water biodiversity in the context of the ecosystem

Management measures introduced (or planned) to prevent damage to specific cold-water biodiversity areas including fishing gear prohibitions for the Darwin Mounds MPA (Council Regulation (EC) No. 602/2004) and North West Rockall Bank MPA (Regulation (EU) No. 227/2013).

Recommendations for fisheries management in other MPAs developed by the Scottish Government and Defra in collaboration with JNCC, Marine Scotland and Cefas. Proposed measures include fishing gear restrictions in all or part of the sites (at consultation stage – not yet implemented)

UK is a contracting party to NEAFC, which established fisheries restrictions in parts of UK waters (e.g. Hatton Bank) that prohibit bottom trawling and fishing with static gear.

EU Deep Sea Fisheries Regulation implemented in 2017 that prohibits trawling below 800 m depth, protecting deeper areas with cold-water biodiversity in UK waters

UK’s marine licensing system ensures that regulated industry activities do not adversely affect habitats and species of nature conservation interest. Licensing process identifies potential adverse impacts and will refuse consent or impose conditions to monitor/mitigate impacts

Proposals for “licensable” activities in MPAs must comply with the EU Habitats Directive 1992 (Article 6(3) and 6(4)) which is transposed into UK law offshore by the Conservation of Marine Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 and / or the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.

Potential impacts of activities are also assessed by an environmental impact assessment (EIA). Activities that do not require a license offshore (e.g. telecommunications, power cable operations) undertake a voluntary EIA process with the UK’s Marine Management Organisation (MMO).

As of March 2018, there were 299 MPAs in UK territorial waters covering nearly 24% of its marine area, including all UK marine biogeographic regions. Further national designations include the Scottish Government’s commitment to enhance the protection of cold-water coral reefs and associated biodiversity through the creation of a deep-sea marine reserve by 2020.

Marine plans are currently in development by the MMO and devolved Governments across the UK.

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approach and national development planning

Annex II: Activity 5.4Expand and improve monitoring and research on biodiversity in cold-water areas to improve fundamental knowledge of how, and over what time scales, climate change and other human-induced stressors will impact the long-term viability of, and ecosystem services provided by, cold-water biodiversity, habitats and ecosystems

Annex II: Activity 5.5Improve coordination and collaboration in research, information sharing and capacity building to address policy and management needs, and to increase public awareness

The UK has developed an overarching marine biodiversity monitoring strategy, which covers all UK waters, including areas with cold-water biodiversity. The monitoring programme within the strategy includes monitoring long-term change in status driven by large-scale drivers such as climate and understanding the effectiveness of management measures. Strategy not quite finalized as discussions were continuing within UK Governments

Since 2016 UK has led monitoring assessments of a number of protected or special areas including the Geikie Slide and Hebridean Slope NC MPA, the Canyons MCZ and the Wyville Thomson Ridge SAC. This monitoring detects temporal changes to MPA status and aims to understand the effects of management measures such as the EU 800 m deep-water fishing ban.

Regular assessments undertaken to monitor the impact of human-induced stressors on biodiversity in order to report against the EU Habitats and Birds Directives, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and for OSPAR. For example, the UK contributed to the 2017 OSPAR Intermediate Assessment looking at trends in pressures and the status of a number of biodiversity indicators in the North-East Atlantic

All benthic data from government-funded surveys are shared publicly in the Marine Recorder database (http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-1599) and fed into the NBN Gateway. Such data has helped to improve the UK part of EUSeaMap, a modelled map of seaweed habitats (http://www.emodnet.eu/seabed-habitats).

JNCC has collaborated with government and academic partners to conduct research that addresses policy and management needs in cold-water areas within UK offshore waters. For example, JNCC partnered with the British Geological Survey on the NERC-funded DEEPLINKS project along with Plymouth University’s Deep Sea CRU and the University of Oxford to investigate patterns of population connectivity in the deep-sea environment off Western Scotland.

http://www.emodnet.eu/seabed-habitats

http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-1599

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Annex II: Activity 5.6Identify and provide sustainable sources of financing at global, regional and national levels to enable the actions outlined in this workplan

In the 25 Year Environment Plan the Government committed to explore the potential for a Natural Environment Impact Fund and encourage private sector investment.

ORGANIZATIONS

North East Atlantic Fisheries

Commission(NEAFC)

Annex II: Activity 5.2Strengthen existing sectoral and cross-sectoral management to address stressors on cold-water biodiversity, including from overfishing and destructive fishing practices, pollution, shipping, seabed mining, (by taking the following actions, as appropriate), and in accordance with national and international laws and circumstances

Annex II: Activity 5.3 Develop and apply marine protected areas and marine spatial planning in order to reduce the impacts of local stressors, and especially the combined and

Measures put in place to prevent significant adverse impacts on vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) known to occur or likely to occur in the Regulatory Area based on the best available scientific information provided or endorsed by the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES): Adopted general approach on VME protection in 2006 – four additional areas closed to

bottom fisheries Permanent Committee on Management and Science (PECMAS) given role to consider

new proposals in light of scientific advice and make recommendations at annual meeting NEAFC Convention amended to clarify the legal mandate to adopt conservation and

management measures not aimed at fish stocks or by-catch but at minimizing harmful impacts on the marine ecosystem and conserving marine biodiversity (entered into force in 2013)

Adopted new binding recommendation on bottom fishing in 2008, which remains the general approach to VME protection:o Regular bottom fishing only in “existing bottom fishing areas”o Exploratory fishing only outside of these areas with restrictions

Area closures remain the major conservation tool. Regular bottom fishing operations only take place in areas where VMEs are not

considered likely to occur (general aim). If a VME is encountered, then bottom fishing does not continue (encounter protocols). New recommendation on VMEs came into force in 2014,6 and includes:

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cumulative effects of multiple stressors, on cold-water biodiversity in the context of the ecosystem approach and national development planning

Annex II: Activity 5.5:Improve coordination and collaboration in research, information sharing and capacity building to address policy and

o General rules on VME protectiono Coordinates of existing bottom areas and closed areaso Annexes on VME data collection protocolo Rules for the assessment of exploratory bottom fishing activitieso A list of VME indicator species including cold-water coral ridges, coral gardens, deep

sea sponge aggregations and glass sponges 2017 NEAFC Annual Meeting extended a closed area and renewal of existing closures. ICES advised NEAFC at the 2018 Annual Meeting to make no changes to existing

closures.

NEAFC is also active in the protection of deep sea fish species: 2006 – ban on the use of gill nets below 200 m depth Current recommendations on prohibiting directed fishing on deep sea sharks, rays and

chimaeras Deep Sea Fisheries report published recently7 indicating a decline in catch and effort over

40 year period 2016 – Agreed approach on the conservation and management of deep-sea species /

stocks8 Measures developed to prevent unregulated expansion of new deep-water fisheries9 before

sufficient information collected for ICES assessment and advice

NEAFC works with other organizations with complementary legal competencies to protect VMEs from activities other than fishing: MOU signed with OSPAR in 2004 NEAFC and OSPAR cooperated with the CBD to identify candidate EBSAs “Collective arrangement” with OSPAR on area-based management in areas beyond

national jurisdiction finalized in 2014 Arrangement aimed at widening cooperation to other international organizations operating

6 https://www.neafc.org/system/files/Rec.19-2014_as_amended_by_09_2015_and_10_2018_fulltext-and-map.pdf.7 https://www.neafc.org/international/22299.8 https://www.neafc.org/system/files/NEAFC_approach_to_DSS_conservation-and-management_Nov16.pdf.9 https://www.neafc.org/system/files/16-15_Procedures-and-Standards-by-PECMAS_0.pdf.

https://www.neafc.org/system/files/16-15_Procedures-and-Standards-by-PECMAS_0.pdf

https://www.neafc.org/system/files/NEAFC_approach_to_DSS_conservation-and-management_Nov16.pdf

https://www.neafc.org/international/22299

https://www.neafc.org/system/files/Rec.19-2014_as_amended_by_09_2015_and_10_2018_fulltext-and-map.pdf

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management needs, and to increase public awareness

in ABNJ such as IMO or ISA. This regional cooperation also improves coordination between ministries at the national

level Collective arrangement produces specific concrete outputs e.g. on developing knowledge

of deep-sea elasmobranchs via a joint NEAFC-OSPAR request to ICES for scientific advice (agreed at 2018 Annual Meeting)

See http://web.unep.org/regionalseas/about/resources/series-reports South East

Atlantic Fisheries

Organisation(SEAFO)

Annex II: Activity 5.2Strengthen existing sectoral and cross-sectoral management to address stressors on cold-water biodiversity, including from overfishing and destructive fishing practices, pollution, shipping, seabed mining, (by taking the following actions, as appropriate), and in accordance with national and international laws and circumstances

Annex II: Activity 5.3Develop and apply marine protected areas and marine spatial planning in order to reduce the impacts of local stressors, and especially the combined and cumulative effects of multiple stressors, on cold-water biodiversity in the context of the ecosystem approach and national development

Fisheries management and conservation measures are adopted based on advice from the Scientific and Compliance Committees

In 2014 many of the Conservation Measures10 were integrated into a new comprehensive System of Observation, Inspection, Compliance and Enforcement

Conservation Measure 30/15 on Bottom Fishing Activities and Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems in the SEAFO Convention Area (CM30-15) was adopted in December 2015 and entered into force in February 2016

CM30-15 supports a broadly comprehensive system, defining existing fishing areas, establishing area closures, setting an exploratory protocol for fishing outside the defined existing areas, providing a protocol for encounters with VME-indicator organisms, complete with the necessary identification guide for VME-indicator organisms, and requiring impact assessments

In 2014: 506,359 km2 of the region’s high seas seabed lay in defined existing fishing areas 503,815 km2 of the SEAFO Convention Area lay within the closures designed to protect

known or likely VMEs, and The remaining 14,646,380 km2 was subject to the exploratory protocol

CM30-15 can be accessed / downloaded via the conservation measures web page on the SEAFO website using the above link

10 Conservation Measures.

http://www.seafo.org/Management/Conservation-Measures

http://www.seafo.org/Management/Conservation-Measures

http://web.unep.org/regionalseas/about/resources/series-reports

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planningTransatlantic Assessment

and Deep-water

Ecosystem-based Spatial Management

Plan for Europe

(ATLAS)

Annex II: Activity 5.1:(a) Integrate issues related to biodiversity in cold-water areas into national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs)

(b) Assess the management and regulatory actions in place nationally and regionally to address the combined and cumulative effects of multiple stressors on cold-water biodiversity, and develop and enhance national mechanisms for inter-agency coordination and collaboration in implementing cross-sectoral regulatory approaches, including the consolidation of existing national initiatives

(c) Assess the degree to which local stressors (such as destructive fishing practices, marine mining, hydrocarbon exploitation, anthropogenic underwater noise, shipping, pollution and bioprospecting) are addressed by existing sectoral regulations, and adjust regulatory

Collection and processing of data submitted from ATLAS partners for the academic exercise on the assessment of strong/weak points for the assessment of Good Environmental Status (GES i.e. the core point of the European Union’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive) in the deep North Atlantic, as well as identifying GES-related future opportunities and challenges.

Using the Monitoring and Evaluation of Spatially Managed Areas (MESMA) framework to apply marine spatial planning in 12 Case Study areas. The framework integrates operational objectives of the plans, cold-water ecosystem components, pressures and stressors from climate change and human activities, and ecosystem goods and services to assess effectiveness of existing management and regulatory actions. The framework then revisits these and adapts them to ensure the objectives are met.

ATLAS’ 2nd Science Policy Panel was hosted by its partner the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) in Ottawa on 11th May 2018, where topics including multi-sectoral management, and EBSAs were discussed including consolidating approaches to marine spatial planning.

Work with UNEP-WCMC to develop lessons learned from VMEs and EBSAs including a case study for the NE Atlantic allowed ATLAS information to be fed into the FAO/UNDEP GEF Deep Seas Project. This involved a writing workshop held in Cambridge, UK 17-18 July 2018.

Assessment of the extent to which a current Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (NCMAP) in the Faroe Shetland Channel, an area exposed to multiple sectors and which has been designated to conserve deep-sea sponge grounds, truly includes areas with the highest known sponge densities and diversity, and the widest size spectrum of sponges. Sponges were constrained to a narrow environmental niche defined by reduced fisheries effort and an interaction between water masses and seafloor slope, but the NCMPA boundary still included the most dense and diverse sponge grounds in the region, with the widest size spectrum including sponge recruits indicating the existing frameworks are

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frameworks to address these stressors, where appropriate

(d) Integrate long-term climate-related impacts on cold-water biodiversity into the assessment of local stressors

(f) Develop regional strategies to address common stressors, complementing national strategies

Annex II: Activity 5.2:(a) Strengthen fisheries management approaches, including the application of the ecosystem approach to fisheries, at national and regional scales, including through regional fishery bodies,…

currently adequate. However, no management measures are currently in place for this specific NCMPA as of January 2019.

Examination of the cumulative effects of fisheries, the oil and gas sector, and environmental variability on the above sponge grounds. Impacts on sponges from the highly regulated oil and gas industry were spatially limited and promoted enhanced species diversity of VME indicator taxa and fish, while fisheries effort affected sponge ecosystems across a far larger spatial scale and reduced epifaunal and fish diversity. The study noted the relative lack of NCMPA management related to fisheries restrictions in the area.

Contributed to the refurbishment of the OSNAP array, a long-term oceanographic array measuring the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). This now allows ecosystem-relevant trends of physical quantities to be measured to improve understanding of climate-scale interactions on ocean circulation, and helps disentangle effects of local stressors to those operating at basin scales.

Involved in the development of a Regional Environmental Management Plan for the Atlantic, taking forward work funded separately by Europe’s DG-MARE and working closely with the International Seabed Authority. ATLAS partners are developing the methodology for an Atlantic Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), building on work undertaken in the Azores (GPS Azores Project) that has conducted an SEA to inform MSP for the Azores Marine Park.

Constructed basin-scale habitat suitability maps for 12 species of cold-water corals and commercially important fish under current and future environmental conditions in support of an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries to help identify areas where VMEs may be located, and which is more adaptive (inclusive) of climate change.

Up to 5 new areas that fit the FAO’s VMEs definition were identified during the Blue Azores 2018 expedition, including some previously unexplored deep-sea areas off the Azores. This included the discovery of a new hydrothermal vent field (“Luso”) in the Gigante Seamount.

Helped to produce connectivity maps and genetic studies inclusive of oil and gas

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(d) Avoid, minimize or mitigate the adverse impacts of seabed mining on cold-water biodiversity, in accordance with the instruments, tools and guidelines of the International Seabed Authority with regard to mining in the deep seabed beyond national jurisdiction

Annex II: Activity 5.3:(a) Increase spatial coverage and management effectiveness of marine protected areas and other area-based conservation measures in cold-water areas

infrastructure in the North Sea basin to add to the regulator’s scientific evidence base for changing policy around oil and gas regulations related to OSPAR Decision 98/3 and the decommissioning of disused structures

Helped demonstrate the role of oil and gas infrastructure as relatively shallow cold-water coral refugia less impacted by the shallowing aragonite saturation horizon, and as possible stepping stones that have the potential to supply larvae to natural populations including Norway’s Aktivneset coral MPA. Now plan to gain industry feedback to understand how such findings can help industry apply the mitigation hierarchy to their activities, particularly around any Comparative Assessment (CA) process where Environmental Impacts being are considered in Decommissioning Plans (DP). For example, this aspect of ATLAS work has been noted in the CA for Fairfield Energy’s Dunlin A’s DP for their northern North Sea operations

Collaborated with the Marine E-Tech and SponGES project to compile georeferenced data layers on the distribution of VME indicator taxa on the Tropic Seamount off the Canary Islands in ABNJ waters. Many VME types were encountered, and a deep-sea squid nursery ground was discovered. A species distribution model predicting the occurrence of one particular rare deep-sea sponge ground was produced. These sponges and mineral resources including ferromanganese crust closely overlap on the seamount. Although the seamount is not subject to an exploration license yet, ATLAS is completing a template to show that the Tropic Seamount meets most of the criteria outlined by the CBD to make it an EBSA in the event that these areas will one day require management considerations in ISA’s licensing process

Developed a tool using meta-population connectivity and graph theory metrics that optimizes the selection of MPAs (Fox et al., in press) and has considered the likely effectiveness of offshore management (Johnson et al. 2018)

Contributed to the evidence base for a template to show how the Tropic Seamount meets most of the CBD criteria to make it an EBSA

Co-organized a workshop on the use of Species Distribution Modelling in the Deep Sea.

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(b) Identify and prioritize, as appropriate, in conservation, protection and management approaches, specific types of cold-water areas, such as

Ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs), vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) and particularly sensitive sea areas (PSSAs) in cold-water areas;

Areas with healthy cold-water coral communities that are at depths above the aragonite saturation horizon;

Habitats that are important for maintaining connectivity, gene pool size and diversity and gene flow;

This workshop was held at the Secretariat of the CBD, Montreal, after the 4th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity. The workshop was jointly organized with the SponGES project and brought together recognized global authorities on SDMs to discuss how to apply these techniques in data limited environments such as the deep sea. The main aspects of the workshop will be published in a Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences

Organized a symposium11 on North Atlantic EBSAs, VMEs and High Seas MPAs in a changing ocean, which took place on 12 May 2018 in Montreal and attracted approximately 50 participants. Colleagues from the SponGES project and the CBD Secretariat contributed to the agenda

Contributed to the inaugural meeting of the CBD EBSA Informal Advisory Group 30 June – 1 July 2018 and the CBD’s 22nd SBSTTA meeting from 2-7 July 2018. These meetings discussed and developed future options for EBSAs of relevance to the Atlantic spatially managed areas

In the NE Atlantic the Mingulay Reef Complex case study, a shallow, inshore cold-water coral reef formed by Lophelia pertusa, is a potential climate change refuge as the water depths where it occurs will be exposed to corrosive waters later than deeper-dwelling offshore cold-water coral habitats. Similarly, the occurrences of Lophelia pertusa on oil and gas infrastructure in the North Sea will likely be among the last exposed to corrosive waters. Johnson and Kenchington (2019) have published a Policy Perspective that makes the case for mainstreaming climate change resilience and refugia considerations in EBSA descriptions

Particle tracking simulations have explored the roles of larval behaviour and connectivity between ATLAS’ 12 Case Study areas. Outputs are being used to identify potential barriers to connectivity, and potential to connect to other cold-water areas that are robust against the large uncertainty around larval behaviour

Produced genetic biomarkers for key cold-water coral species facilitating bioinformatic analysis, which will also help to validate predictive models of connectivity generated from the particle tracking studies

Contributed to the development of an efficient multi-objective optimization method for the

11 https://www.eu-atlas.org/resources/public-documents/256-atlas-vme-ebsa-symposium-flyer/file.

https://www.eu-atlas.org/resources/public-documents/256-atlas-vme-ebsa-symposium-flyer/file

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Representative benthic habitats across the range of ecosystems, including those adjacent to degraded areas.

Annex II: Activity 5.4:(a) Improve knowledge of biodiversity in cold-water areas, including species identification, species distribution, community composition and taxonomic standardization, to provide baseline information for assessing the effects of climate change and other human-induced stressors, including:

Support research on biodiversity in cold-water areas to fill in gaps in fundamental knowledge of

incorporation of connectivity information in the design of MPA networks (Fox et al., in press). Multi-objective network optimization highlighted previously unreported step changes in the structure of optimal subnetworks for protection associated with minimal changes in cost or benefit functions. This emphasizes the desirability of performing a full, unconstrained, multi-objective optimization for marine spatial planning. Results support the use of a conservation strategy based around highly connected clusters of sites

Identified biogeographic regions in the bathyal and abyssal plains, based on a geodatabase of VME indicator taxa in the North Atlantic. These regions do not conform to those estimated using physical proxies such as the IOC-UNESCO’s Global Open Oceans and Deep Seabed classification scheme, or ESRI’s Ecological Marine Units. These new species-based regions can be used to identify whether adequate protection or representativity is reflected in, e.g., MPA networks

Organized a workshop on the use of Species Distribution Modelling in the Deep Sea, held at the Secretariat of the CBD, Montreal 13th-16th May 2018. Presentation: “Setting the Context: Voluntary Specific Workplan on Biodiversity in Cold-water Areas within the Jurisdictional Scope of the Convention”. The relevance of the workplan to be summarized in further detail in an introductory chapter prepared for the special issue of Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences

Research expeditions (MEDWAVES, Blue Azores, NICO, M151-ATHENA and MapGES) have been gathering high-definition video transects that are being used to determine additional distribution patterns of deep-sea benthic biodiversity in the Azores

Building a species catalogue of deep-sea fauna of the Azores region and made data on deep-sea biodiversity of the North Atlantic publicly available with emphasis on VMEs. The catalogue gathers megafauna image data (mainly cold-water corals, sponges and fishes) collected during several past cruises within the projects HERMIONE, CoralFISH, CORAZON, BIOMETORE and more recent cruises such as MEDWAVES, MIDAS, NICO and Blue Azores. This call for data from the ATLAS partners resulted in 48,820 new geo-referenced data points for selected species. Developed a video analysis protocol to ensure consistent data gathering from video transects

Validated eDNA methods for monitoring and screening deep-sea biodiversity. By developing quantitative (q)PCR assays for marine species the possibility of detecting the

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species identification, species distribution and community composition, including taxonomic standardization

presence of target species (VME indicator taxa, commercially important fish) in environmental water samples has been assessed

The diversity and density of communities from the Alborán Sea to the Azores (Seco de los Olivos, Gazul, Ormonde and Formigas) and the cold-water coral carbonate mounds in the Logachev Mound Province, Rockall Bank, NE Atlantic, were identified from high-definition video transect data. Completed report on how water masses influence the benthic communities of these underwater geomorphological features. Specifically, for the Logachev Mound Province, biodiversity will be related to spatial variability of near-bottom organic matter supply

A study on the non-scleractinian cold-water coral distribution, diversity, density and evenness in the Logachev Mound Province, Rockall Bank, NE Atlantic identified and mapped eight black coral species. Areas with a high diversity of non-scleractinian corals are interpreted to offer sufficient food, weak inter-species competition and the presence of heterogeneous and hard settlement substrates. (De Clippele et al., under review)

A survey on the Tropic seamount identified numerous VME indicator taxa, including high-density octocoral gardens, Solenosmilia variabilis patch reefs, xenophyphores, crinoid fields and deep-sea sponge grounds. This study contributes to the biogeography of the species in this basin and builds a case to designate the Tropic seamount as an EBSA, addressing biodiversity conservation in an area beyond national jurisdiction (Ramiro Sánchez et al., under review)

The macrobenthic fauna composition in the Mingulay Reef Complex was examined analysing samples from 86 stations collected between 2003-2011. The aim of this study is to unravel spatial and temporal gradients in fauna composition with special emphasis on the role of the North Atlantic Oscillation

DNA analyses of Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) samples across its distributional range revealed significant genetic differentiation between samples from the North-east Atlantic and East Mediterranean populations (Gallagher et al., 2018)

Organic matter mineralization in coral garden communities in the Condor Seamount - conducted using the non‐invasive in situ eddy correlation system (AEC) and by collecting seawater samples for inorganic nutrients, particulate organic matter and chlorophyll-a measurements

Study of oceanographic conditions shaping the distribution of deep-sea sponge

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Identify key habitat providers and their functional role within ecosystems to understand which organisms may be a priority in conservation and management

communities - conducted by deploying landers equipped with instruments monitoring physical (e.g. temperature), chemical (e.g. salinity) and biological (e.g. flux of organic matter) parameters in areas with high and low density of sponges in Davis Strait (Canada). The deployment of these landers was a major achievement for ATLAS as it involved the collaboration of European, USA and Canadian partners. The recovery of the landers is planned for summer 2019

Mapping the mineralization of organic matter in Mingulay Reef Complex and Logachev Mound, under current and future environmental conditions. The maps of the benthic O2 uptake will advance our understanding on the cycling of organic matter in cold-water coral reefs, focusing on the functional role of key ecosystem engineers like the cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa and the massive sponge Spongosorites coralliophaga (De Clippele et al., in preparation)

The physiology (feeding and respiration) of the deep-sea ecosystem engineer Spongosorites coralliophaga was studied in Mingulay Reef Complex and Logachev Mound unravelling its flexible feeding and metabolic strategies (Kazanidis et al., 2018). Data collected provided evidence about how this massive sponge proliferates under food-limited conditions. Furthermore, data collected will enhance our understanding about the functional role (e.g. in oxygen fluxes, mediation of carbon and nitrogen cycling) of this massive sponge in cold-water coral reefs (De Clippele et al., in preparation)

The role of cold-water coral reef framework in oxygen and nutrient fluxes in Logachev Mound has been studied. It was shown that the framework has an important role both in oxygen and nitrogen cycling. In addition, those measurements were scaled up to biogeochemical fluxes to all coral mounds in the Rockall Bank area. The study was based on the deployment of instrumentation on the seafloor of Logachev Mound (for studying oxygen fluxes) and on-board incubations (for studying oxygen and nitrogen fluxes)

The role of non-scleractinian corals as a habitat for the associated megafauna in cold-water coral mounds, was studied for the Logachev Mound province. Non-scleractinian corals, especially black corals, are an important habitat for crabs, crinoids and shrimps in the Logachev Mound Province (De Clippele et al., under review)

Key ecosystem services have been identified for each of the 12 ATLAS Case Study areas by using both the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) and the CICES framework. A total of 55 expert assessments of the risks posed by the Blue Economy and Blue Growth

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(b) Assess the socioeconomic implications of the ongoing and predicted future pressures on cold-water biodiversity, including:

Enhance understanding of the ecosystem goods and services of cold-water areas

Investigate connectivity (genetic and transfer of mobile species) among cold-water areas at multiple scales;

sectors in particular, as well as climate change, were elicited by questionnaires. A comparison of the service delivery was then made across the Case Study areas. The publication entitled “Expert assessment of risks posed by climate change and anthropogenic activities to ecosystem services in the deep North Atlantic” has been submitted. In summary, experts concluded that deep-sea tourism and blue biotechnology were not seen as likely to cause serious risk to any of the ecosystem services. Negative impacts were forecasted for temperature change, ocean acidification, fishing, pollution, and oil and gas activities.

Provided additional evidence that climate change may significantly influence the structure and functioning of deep-ocean communities. It appears likely that predicted changes to Earth’s surface and atmospheric environments over the coming decades will propagate rapidly through the water column and influence deep-sea benthic communities, this having concomitant effects on ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem services (Ashford et al., 2018).

Participated in two national MSP workshops organized by the Irish Marine Institute addressing Ecosystem Services and Climate Change in relation to MSP in June 2018. A preliminary report on mapping ecosystem goods and services across several ATLAS case study areas has been prepared.

ATLAS partners help to organize and contribute to the annual International Marine Connectivity (iMarCo) meetings, where progress on the science of connectivity – modelled and genetic, warm-water and cold-water – and its use in MSP were presented and discussed.

Publication (Henry et al., 2018) on modelling trajectories of larvae of the cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa, demonstrating that oil and gas platforms facilitate the dispersal and connectivity of this protected species. Network analyses illustrated how a single generation of virtual larvae released from these installations could create a highly connected anthropogenic system, with larvae becoming competent to settle over a range of natural deep-sea, shelf and fjord coral ecosystems including a marine protected area.

A comparison of ecosystem service delivery was made across ATLAS Case Study areas. Ecosystem goods and services provided by the ATLAS Case Study areas were identified, and the benefits of these ecosystem services were compared and synthesized. Discrete Choice

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Investigate flow-on effects to ecosystems and ecosystem services that have significant environmental, social, cultural and economic impacts.

(c) Improve understanding of how climate change, acidification and other human-induced stressors will impact the physiology, health and long-term viability of cold-water organisms, habitats and ecosystems, including:

Carry out controlled laboratory experimentation, where feasible, on key individual species (e.g., ecosystem engineers, keystone species) to understand their metabolic, physiological and behavioural responses, and their

Experiments questionnaires (DCEs) were also designed, particularly for information on management regulations, conservation and blue growth opportunities for the Azores ATLAS Case Study. This information is intended to provide background for the identification process of key attributes and associated attribute levels of Atlantic deep-sea ecosystems to be used in the DCEs. ATLAS will be involved in other initiatives aiming at preparing and testing DCE questionnaires to evaluate people’s willingness to pay for changes in deep sea conservation (e.g. focus groups). Additionally, a general knowledge survey on deep-sea environmental issues was applied among residents and visitors to the Azores. The survey investigated general knowledge, views and perceptions towards deep sea environmental issues, including attitudes towards deep sea pressures and risks, deep-sea ecosystem services and potential preferences for public participation on deep sea conservation. A total of 250 self-administered questionnaires were completed.

Studies on the effects of ocean acidification and food availability on the physiology of the gorgonian Dentomuricea meteor to take place between January and March 2019, and will provide baseline data to model particle preferences under different flow conditions for passive and active filter feeders.

Developed a new version of a physiological model of a cold-water coral. In this model, temperature, ocean acidification and food availability are used as forcing functions to study effects on cold-water coral physiology. The VIKING20 model output of Atlantic Ocean hydrography is used to start modelling organic matter transport in the Davis Strait area. Modelling work at Rockall bank is ongoing and will start soon for the Condor seamount.

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tolerance limits/thresholds, to ocean acidification, and the potential interactive effects of warming and deoxygenation and human-induced stressors

(e) Develop or expand upon predictive model research to determine how projected climate change will impact cold-water biodiversity over different time scales.

Document existing gaps in knowledge on global, regional and national scales that limit the predictive power of models (annex III; 5.2)

Optimize habitat modelling to predict key habitats and biodiversity occurrence from seawater carbonate chemistry, oceanographic and water mass modelling and larval dispersal (annex III; 5.4)

The research cruise campaign has provided new data on seafloor mapping in different areas of the North Atlantic. These include new high-resolution habitat maps and a GIS database of cold-water ecosystem geomorphometric descriptors of seafloor terrain for Seco de los Olivos, Gazul Mud Volcano, and Ormonde and Formigas seamounts

Completed the first approach to evaluate if environmental niche modelling is a useful tool to forecast climate induced changes in habitat suitability of VMEs and commercially important deep-sea fishes. Making use of presence data from the Ocean Biodiversity Information System and a set of predictions for environmental conditions at the deep seafloor, ATLAS modelled the habitat suitability for six cold-water coral and six fish species under current and future climate conditions in the northern Atlantic Ocean. Our model predictions showed that most species could be facing a significant reduction in the suitable habitat towards 2100, while deep-sea fishes could also face a poleward shift in response to climate change. We demonstrated that habitat suitability modelling is a useful tool for evaluating changes in distribution of deep-sea species under future climate scenarios and for management purposes, if some caveats are properly addressed.

Contributed to a modelling study demonstrating the potential sensitivity of an MPA network to atmospheric variability (Fox et al., 2016). Trajectories of Lophelia pertusa larvae were found to be strongly correlated to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), the dominant pattern of interannual atmospheric circulation variability over the northeast Atlantic. Variability in trajectories significantly altered network connectivity and source–sink dynamics.

Modelled the effects of biologically realistic behaviour on larval dispersal. Larval behaviours are predicted to impact their long-term spreading. The strength of this enhanced dispersal varies regionally. For deep-sea populations, the uncertainty in modelled dispersal and connectivity associated with vertical larval positioning in the water column is potentially an order of magnitude larger than that associated with pelagic larval duration or model hydrodynamics. This work points to the need to fill the knowledge gap around deep-sea larval behaviour to reduce the current large uncertainties in modelled dispersal and connectivity.

ATLAS safeguards and makes open-access all its data, publishing many of these at

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Annex II: Activity 5.5(a) Develop research collaboration as part of national programmes, including sharing of information relevant to cold-water biodiversity and opportunities for scientific collaboration and capacity-building, addressing the research needs identified in annex III

(c) Improve knowledge-sharing among various actors and provide opportunities for participation in assessment, monitoring and research

PANGAEA,12 while all ATLAS outputs are monitored and reported on using OpenAIRE. Development of video analysis protocol from Azores, building a coral species catalogue

for the Azores, identification of new coral species (Octocorallia: Plexauridae) from the Azores Archipelago.

The ATLAS public project website is visually attractive and informative and includes a link to the web-based collaborative workspace to facilitate continuous project partner communication and scientific collaboration. Can also follow ATLAS on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Internal and external project stakeholders are encouraged to join all forms of ATLAS social media. These channels are a forum for engagement with interested external parties and contribute to capacity building and showcasing the partnership expertise and knowledge through active discussions. ATLAS organizes a yearly general assembly, seminars, workshops and other meetings that are all useful forums to consult with target audiences in a face-to-face capacity and to address issues relevant to the work done in the project. International and sector relevant conferences, meetings, etc. are frequently attended to communicate the results of the project to the maximum number of persons.

Participated in the IUCN-hosted meetings in Gland (9-11 October 2018) and Paris (16-17 October 2018) on targets for area-based management conservation and presented ATLAS to the OSPAR Commission expert meeting on MPAs (ICG-MPA) from 30 October - 1 November 2018.

The ATLAS project signed the “Malta Declaration”. This constitutes “a call for a transnational cooperation for implementing the Marine Strategy Framework Directive in the deep Mediterranean Basin”. The declaration highlights, among others, the necessity for collecting data on MSFD indicators in the deep regions of the southern Mediterranean Sea with the participation of North African countries. This cooperation will contribute to a better understanding of the structure and functioning of deep Mediterranean ecosystem and the establishment of conservation strategies in an era of unprecedented change.

In collaboration with the H2020 projects “SponGES” and “MERCES”, participated in a joint session on “Ocean Basin Scale Research”', held at the 4th World Ocean Conference on Marine Biodiversity in Montreal (Canada). ATLAS members also collaborated with colleagues from SponGES and MERCES on public engagement via a booth for visitors.

Prior to the 4th World Ocean Conference on Marine Biodiversity, the 2nd ATLAS Science

12 https://www.pangaea.de/?q=project%3Alabel%3AATLAS.

https://www.pangaea.de/?q=project%3Alabel%3AATLAS

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(d) Develop and implement targeted education and awareness campaigns for diverse stakeholders on the socioeconomic value of cold-water biodiversity and ecosystems, and the role of various stakeholders in increasing the resilience of cold-water biodiversity by reducing direct stressors

(e) Collaborate with indigenous peoples and local communities, fishers, civil society and the general public to improve

Policy Panel13 was hosted by partners Fisheries Oceans Canada (DFO) in Ottawa on 11 th of May 2018.

The ATLAS symposium14 on North Atlantic EBSAs, VMEs and High MPAs in a changing ocean took place on 12 May 2018 in Montreal.

Launched a Special Issue in the Journal, Frontiers in Marine Science Research Topic “Managing deep-sea ecosystems at ocean basin scale”.

ATLAS partners from Europe, Canada and USA collaborated successfully for the deployment of benthic landers in the Davis Strait Case Study area, in order to study the oceanographic conditions in areas of high and low density of deep-sea sponges. This collaboration is a good example of implementing the “Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean Cooperation”.

Participated in the Midlothian Science Festival (Scotland), taking an interactive quiz on ecosystem services and value of aquatic ecosystems, including cold-water coral reefs, to 30 students at Penicuik High School.

Assessment of public attitudes to selected Atlantic case study areas and willingness to pay for their conservation in four Atlantic Ocean areas.

Developed a wide range of educational materials (e.g. taxonomy and ROV challenge, biodiversity mat, ocean acidification experiment, 360 educational videos, quiz, touch boxes) that are being used in an interactive way in schools, conferences and policy events. Examples are, Midlothian Science Festival, 4th World Conference in Marine Biodiversity, West Highland Yachting Week, European Researchers’ Night 2018.

13 https://www.eu-atlas.org/news/project-news/80-atlas-science-policy-meeting-report-out-now.14 ATLAS symposiumhttps://www.eu-atlas.org/resources/public-documents/256-atlas-vme-ebsa-symposium-flyer/file.



https://www.eu-atlas.org/news/project-news/80-atlas-science-policy-meeting-report-out-now

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information available for assessment, monitoring and validation of predictive models, including through the application of traditional knowledge, fisher’s knowledge and citizen science

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