Seabed litter distribution in the high seas of the Flemish Pass area (NW Atlantic)

Abstract

Seabed litter of the Flemish Pass area (NW Atlantic Ocean) was analysed and described using data from the EU-Spain groundfish survey (2006-2017 period). This study presents baseline information on seabed litter in this area. The Flemish Pass is located in areas beyond national jurisdiction within the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Regulatory Area Division 3L. A total of 1169 valid bottom trawl hauls were analysed (104-1478 m depth). Litter was found in 8.3% of the hauls, with mean densities of 1.4±0.2 items km -2 and 10.6±5.2 kg km -2 . An increasing pattern with depth was found, the highest densities of seabed litter being identified in the deepest areas located in the Flemish Pass channel and down the northeastern flank of the Grand Bank. Fishing was found to be the main source of marine litter, and 61.9% of the hauls with litter presence showed litter included in the fisheries-related litter category. Whereas in most cases the litter was composed of small fragments of rope, in other cases it was composed of entire fishing gears such as traps. Plastics, metal and other anthropogenic litter were the next most abundant categories, accounting for 18.6%, 16.5% and 12.4% of the total, respectively. Distribución de la basura en los fondos de alta mar en el área de Flemish Pass (Atlántico Noroccidental)Resumen: La basura en los fondos marinos del área de Flemish Pass (Océano Atlántico Noroeste) ha sido analizada y descrita utilizando datos de las campañas demersales de EU-España (período 2006-2017. Este estudio presenta información de referencia sobre la basura en los fondos marinos de esta área. Flemish Pass está localizado en áreas más allá de las jurisdicciones nacionales dentro del Área Reguladora de la Organización para las Pesquerías del Atlántico Noroccidental División 3L. Se han analizado un total de 1169 lances de arrastre de fondo válidos (104-1478 m de profundidad). Se ha encontrado basura en el 8.3% de los lances con densidades medias de 1.4±0.2 ítems km -2 y 10.6±5.2 kg km -2 . Se ha hallado un patrón de aumento con la profundidad, identificándose densidades mayores de basura marina en las áreas más profundas ubicadas en el canal Flemish Pass y en el flanco noreste del Gran Banco. Se ha descubierto que la pesca es la principal fuente de basura marina, el 61.9% de los lances con presencia de basura mostraron desechos incluidos en la categoría de basura relacionada con la actividad pesquera. Mientras que en la mayoría de los casos la basura estaba compuesta por pequeños fragmentos de cabo, en otros casos estaba compuesta por aparejos como nasas. Posteriormente, los plásticos, el metal y otros desechos antropogénicos fueron las categorías más abundantes, con 18.6%, 16.5% y 12.4%, respectivamente.Palabras clave: basura marina; basura en los fondos marinos; pesca; Flemish Pass; Atlántico Noroeste. Citation/Como citar este artículo: García-Alegre A., Román-Marcote E., Gago J., González-Nuevo G., Sacau M., Durán Muñoz P. 2020. Seabed litter distribution in the high seas of the Flemish Pass area (NW At...

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