Slayt 1

Identification: Bayram Öztürk – Istanbul University Fisheries Faculty - [email protected] - +902124555700/16404
SPAMI PROPOSALS FOR FINIKE (ANAXIMANDER) AND MEDITERRANEAN (ERATOSTHENES) SEAMOUNTS IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA
Bayram ÖZTÜRK1,2, Eda N. TOPÇU1, Çetin KESKİN1
1 Istanbul University, Fisheries Faculty, Turkey - [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
2 Turkish Marine Research Foundation, Turkey
Abstract: SPA/BD Protocol is one of the instruments for the Marine Protected Areas and Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI). SAP-BIO adopted in 2003 by the Barcelona Convention mentioned that setting up of protected areas in offshore waters (including high seas) to protect pelagic
ecosystem, sensitive species, seamounts and submarine canyons should be priority. Here we propose two seamounts in the eastern Mediterranean Sea for SPAMI.
Firstly the Finike (Anaximander) Seamount is an important area for active mud volcanism and gas hydrate formation. It is described as large faulted and tilted blocks that were geologically continuous from SW Turkey. Mud volcanoes, seeps and vents specific seep-associated fauna (e.g. tubeworms, bivalves and
chemosynthetic bacteria) have been known in this area. It is also near one of the major spawning grounds for pelagic fish, located near between the Antalya Eddy and the Rhodes Gyre, which is one of the most distinct features of the Levantine basin. Also, many deep sea fish species of which the status are not yet
evaluated by IUCN have been sampled from this area, together with highly commercial deep-sea shrimps. Abralia veranyi, a deep sea cephalopod and a prey species of the striped and Risso’s dolphins was sampled from the area. This seamount is under the threat of international fishing practices in recent years.
Secondly, the Mediterranean Seamount (Eratosthenes) is important in terms of diverse marine biodiversity, represented by scleractinian corals, deepwater crustaceans, sponges and others. Besides, GFCM also has issued recommendations for the Eratosthenes Seamount. Fisheries have been already banned according to
the GFCM recommendation number 2006/3 and the fisheries restricted areas have been established in order to protect the deep sea sensitive ecosytem. Nevertheless, IUU fisheries, ship- originated pollution and offshore drilling in recent years are main threats for such a pristine habitat. Oil and gas exploration activities
need to be banned in this unique area.
The Finike and Mediterranean Seamounts are considered as isolated underwater islands in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and need full protection due to their role as stepping stones from the high sea to the coastal areas. Appropriate SPAMI listing can be an important instrument for the protection of these offshore areas
in the international waters.
Keywords: SPAMI – Seamount – Levantine basin – deep sea
INTRODUCTION
The Protocol concerning specially protected areas in the
Mediterranean:
• protects natural resources in the Mediterranean region
• preserves the diversity of the gene pool
• protects certain natural sites by creating a series of specially
preserved areas.
The establishment of Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean
Importance (SPAMIs) has the objective, among others, of promoting
cooperation in the management and conservation of natural
areas, as well as in the protection of threatened species and their
habitats.
• This is particularly important in high seas
areas which necessitate international cooperation.
•I n the Eastern Mediterranean, the Levantine Sea
is the most oligotrophic part of the Mediterranean
Sea. Considering the gradient of decreasing
species diversity from west to east, the Levant
Basin is the most impoverished area for all major
groups of animals and plants.
• Into such an oligotrophic area, seamounts
constitute a rich oasis compared to the poverty of
the surrounding deep sea.
• Seamounts are hotspots of biodiversity in deep waters
as their distinctive environment provides habitat for a
great variety of benthic and pelagic species.
• There is a high rate of speciation and endemism
amongst
seamount
fauna.
Seamounts
provide
appropriate environmental conditions for the reproduction
of many pelagic or demersal fish species as well as
providing habitat and feeding grounds.
• This is the case with the two seamounts in the Levant
Basin and therefore, their conservation is important in
order to preserve the whole Mediterranean biodiversity.
Figure 1. A. Map and location of
the
Finike
(Anaximander)
Mountains. The map at the right top
is adapted from Lykousis et al.,
2009.
B. Location of the Eratosthenes
Seamount
in
the
Eastern
Mediterranean.
Finike (Anaximander)
Seamount
Cyprus
WHY THESE TWO SEAMOUNTS?
Mediterranean (Eratosthenes)
Seamount
The Finike (Anaximander) Mountains:
Location of the
proposed SPAMIs in
this study.
 formed by an older group of continental fragments now caught up in the plate convergence between Africa and Eurasia
(Woodside et al., 1998), are an important area for active mud volcanism and gas hydrate formation.
 The chemosynthetic communities of the Anaximander mud field with description of neo-endemic species were
dominated by bivalves of particularly small size, belonging to families commonly found at seeps (Mytilidae, Vesicomyidae,
Thyasiridae) and to Lucinidae mostly encountered in littoral sulfide-rich sediments and at the shallowest seeps; Siboglinid
polychaetes including a large vestimentiferan Lamellibrachia sp. were also associated (Olu-Le Roy et al., 2004). New
deep-water bivalve species of Lucinidae, Lucinoma kazani, was described from the Anaximander mountains (Salas and
Woodside, 2002).
 A recent study by Tserpes et al. (2008), exhibited density distribution maps of the swordfish Xiphias gladius that migrates
toward the eastern Levantine for spawning and suggested the existence of a major spawning ground that seems to be
located near the Anaximander seamounts, at an area between the Anaximander eddy, the Antalya eddy and the Rhodes
Gyre, which is one of the most distinct features of the Levantine basin (Öztürk et al., 2012).
Figure 2. Map of the SPAMIs overall the Mediterranean (RAC/SPA, 2012). The
scarcity of SPAMIs in the Eastern Mediterranean (EM) is conspicuous on this
map. The proposed areas could fulfill the need of EM SPAMIs with their high
biodiversity, uniqueness and vulnerability.
A
B
The Eratosthenes Mountain:
 is a flat-topped seamount measuring approximately 120 kms in diameter at the base, and rising 1500 m
above the adjacent bathyal plain, with a summit 756 m below sea level.
 Also, many deep sea fish species of which the status are not yet evaluated by IUCN were sampled from this area,
together with highly commercial deep-sea shrimps (Öztürk et al., 2010). Abralia veranyi, a deep sea cephalopod and a
preferable prey of the striped and Risso’s dolphins was sampled from the area (Öztürk et al., 2010).
 The only knowledge on the biology of the mountain is a single study which reports on the collection (with trawl
and grab sampling at a depth of 800 m) of a limited number of benthic samples: Galil and Zibrowius report
(2008) relatively rich and diverse fauna consisting mainly of two species of scleractinian corals (Caryophylla
calveri and Desmophyllum cristagalli) (now D. dianthus), two types of encrusting foraminiferans, two species of
encrusting poriferans, abundant scyphozoan polyps, many individuals of the small actiniarian Kadophellia
bathyalis, seven species of bivalves, one sipunculan, one asteroid, one fish and unidentified zoantharians and
antipatharians.
 This area is important for marine mammals since such environments have rich and diverse benthic ecology associated
with methane-rich fluid seeps and thus could be the base of food chains that reach top predators like the deep-diving
whales (Woodside et al., 2006). In fact the gouge marks that were found on mud volcanoes were suggested to be created
by Cuvier’s beaked whales, Ziphius cavirostris during foraging dives (Woodside et al., 2006).
 GFCM has already banned demersal fishing acitivities in the area according to the recommendation number
2006/3 and the fisheries restricted areas have been established in order to protect the deep sea sensitive
ecosytem. Nevertheless, IUU fisheries, ship- originated pollution and offshore drilling in recent years are main
threats for such a pristine habitat. Oil and gas exploration activities need to be banned in this unique area.
 The Finike Seamount has previously been suggested as a protected area in Öztürk (2009).
SUITABILITY of the PROPOSED SEAMOUNTS as SPAMIs
SPAMIs may be established in the marine and coastal zones subject to the sovereignty or jurisdiction of the Parties and in
areas situated partly or wholly on the high sea. The SPAMI's List may include sites which:
•are of importance for conserving the components of biological diversity in the Mediterranean;
•contain ecosystems specific to the Mediterranean area or the habitats of endangered species;
•are of special interest at the scientific, aesthetic, cultural or educational levels.
Clearly, these two seamounts are unique in the Mediterranean, harbouring endemic or rare marine species. They are of
great scientific interest in the oligotrophic Eastern Mediterranean. They are under threat from IUU fisheries, shipping
originated pollution and offshore oil and gas exploration.
CONCLUSION
 The Finike and Eratosthenes seamounts are unique ecosystems within the Mediterranean.
 They are under threat from various maritime activities.
 The two seamounts are considered as isolated underwater islands in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and need full protection
due to their role as stepping stones from the high sea to the coastal areas. Appropriate SPAMI listing can be an important
instrument for the protection of these offshore areas in the international waters.
REFERENCES
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This study is part of the EC FP7 Project “CoCoNet” (Towards COast to COast
NETworks of marine protected areas ( from the shore to the high and deep sea),
coupled with sea-based wind energy potential)
http://www.coconet-fp7.eu/