Division 5.1 Impacts of bottom towed gear activity on Sabellaria spinulosa reef:

The available evidence^f1 highlights the impact of towed demersal gears as a significant threat to Sabellaria spp. reef. It is acknowledged that different fishing gears are likely to have variable levels of impact and there is limited peer reviewed empirical data demonstrating impacts. However, these factors are not considered to outweigh a precautionary rating of red particularly in the context of known declines of this feature in the OSPAR region. There are clear links between human activity and threat to Sabellaria spinulosa reefs, the most significant of which is physical damage caused by towed demersal trawling (Jones et al. 2000, Holt et al. 1998 and OSPAR, 2010). The impact of towed demersal gear is to break apart the worm tubes resulting in direct mortality (death) of the worms and in a reduction of the structure and complexity of the habitat which may no longer support the associated animals and plant communities (UK BAP 2000).One study (Volberg 2000) conducted off the coast of France and in the Wadden Sea challenges the view that all towed gears constitute a great risk to all Sabellaria spp. reef; however, the study findings relate exclusively to short-term effects following once-only disturbance and conclude that the possibility of impairment by shrimp trawling in the medium to long-term cannot be ruled out in the event of intensive fishing, despite the relatively light weight of the gear used^f2.