Study Reveals How Shipwrecks Are Providing A Refuge For Marine Life
Arthur T Knackerbracket has processed the following story:
An estimated 50,000 shipwrecks can be found around the UK's coastline and have been acting as a hidden refuge for fish, corals and other marine species in areas still open to destructive bottom towed fishing, a new study has shown.
Many of these wrecks have been lying on the seabed for well over a century, and have served as a deterrent to fishers who use bottom towed trawling to secure their catches.
As a result, while many areas of the seabed have been damaged significantly in areas of heavy fishing pressure, the seabed in and around shipwrecks remains largely unblemished.
[...] Jenny Hickman, the study's lead author, completed the research as part of her MSc Marine Conservation program at the University of Plymouth.
She said, "The industrial use of bottom towed fishing gear has been commonplace since the 1800s, and has significantly altered marine communities and ecosystem services. Outside of legal protection, only areas inaccessible to trawlers are offered any protection, which is why shipwreck sites are rarely subject to trawling pressure. As many have been in situ for more than 100 years, they offer a baseline of ecological potential when trawling pressure is reduced or removed."
[...] Joe Richards, Scotland Project Manager for Blue Marine Foundation and one of the study's co-authors, said, "It has long been thought that shipwrecks could be playing an important role in providing sanctuary for marine species to utilize. It is brilliant to see this proven in this study. The research provides and insight into what might be possible if bottom towed fishing activity is reduced. This feeds into our wider understanding of shipwrecks' potential to contribute to ecosystem recovery and enhancement, given the sheer number found on the seabed."
[...] Researchers say the latest study demonstrates the importance of factoring wreck sites into future conservation plans, but also the benefits of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) status.
Journal Reference:
Jenny Hickman, Joe Richards, Adam Rees, Emma V. Sheehan, Shipwrecks act as de facto Marine Protected Areas in areas of heavy fishing pressure [open], Marine Ecology, First published: 22 November 2023https://doi.org/10.1111/maec.12782
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