Oceana proposal for a Marine Protected Area

2013 11 BALTIC SEA PROJECT Oceana proposal for a Marine Protected Area Introduction Denmark s is located between Jutland and Fyn. The and the Great Belt together form the Belt Sea, which is a transition zone between the saltier Kattegat and the brackish Baltic Sea. The varies in depth with trenches at approximately 35 meters depth, and shallower bays 1. In June 2012, Oceana studied the area with an underwater robot, scuba divers and bottom samples. 1

11 Description of the area The strong current in provides good conditions for specialized and biodiverse habitats, including macro algae and benthos. The current removes loose material, and the bottom therefore consists mainly of hard substrates, on which macro algae and benthic fauna attach themselves. The benthic fauna filters the large amount of nutrients, which flow through the water 2. The common eelgrass Zostera marina, which Oceana documented 3 in the s coastal shallow bottoms, is one of the most important ecosystems in the area, and in the world. This type of habitat provides shelter to many species and stabilizes the seabed with its stems and roots 4. Eelgrass meadows also store carbon, which is important in climate regulation. Unfortunately, the distribution of these meadows across Europe is declining and OSPAR has listed these beds as threatened and/or declining wherever they occur 5. Benthic fauna in the area includes the bivalve Arctica islandica, which is present in high numbers in the northern part of 6, and the Abra and slender sea pen (Virgularia mirabilis) communities 7. Slender sea pens are often found together with megafauna, forming a community known as sea pen with burrowing megafauna, which is listed as threatened and/or declining by OSPAR and HELCOM. A century ago, the horse mussel Modiolus community could be found in several areas in the northern part of the Belt Sea. Horse mussels form beds, which are quite biodiverse, as organisms can attach themselves to the shells. The distribution of this coomunity has since declined, but it has recently has been found both west and east of Samsø, including inside this proposed site 8. Oceana documented clusters in several areas both north of Little Belt near the island of Æbelø, and inside itself (see Table 1). Modiolus beds are listed as threatened and/or declining by OSPAR. Oceana documented several important species at 20 meters deep, including a sponge (Haliclona oculata), hydroids (Halecium halecinum etc.), jellyfish (Aurelia aurita), sea anemones (Sagartiogeton undatus), worms (Neries sp. and more), bivalves (Arctica islandica, Cardiidae sp., Modiolus modiolus), crustaceans (including common shore crab Carcinus maenas), bryozoans (including hornwrack Flustra foliacea), echinoderms (such as shore sea urchin Psammechinus miliaris), and tunicates (yellow ringed sea squirt Ciona intestinalis, and Gooseberry sea squirt Dendrodoa grossularia). Fish were also documented including the butterfish (Pholis gunnellus), and plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), which is listed by HELCOM as probably declining. Many of the species described above were also found in shallower waters. Species like the hooknose (Agonus cataphractus), common goby (Pomatoschistus microps) and sugar kelp (Laminaria latissima) were spotted at 13 to 16 meters deep. In shallow waters from 6 to 10 meters deep, several species of algae were found, including bladder wrack (Fucus vesiculosus), toothed wrack (Fucus serratus), oarweed (Laminaria digitata), and several red algae (Delesseria sanguinea, Hildenbrandia rubra, Lithothamnion glaciale and Phycodrys rubens). is an important area for harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) 9,10, which were observed by Oceana in the narrow part of the belt. It is listed in the Habitats Directive annexes (Annex II and V), and Denmark as a Member State is thus obligated to protect it with Special Areas of Conservation (SAC). The area is also known to be important for wintering waterbirds 11, which adds to the unique qualities of this area. Proposal Oceana s proposal includes both a wider area in the south of, the narrow part where the current is strong, and the area north of the belt. The most northern part of the site reaches into the Great Belt and western coast of the island Samsø. The proposal ties together a number of Natura 2000 sites (see the map above). Several important species and threatened and/or declining communities, including Zostera meadows and Modiolus community, were found inside the area as mentioned above, and should be protected immediately. There is local support to protect the area, which is popular for divers and recreational anglers. Several Danish NGOs, including Oceana, have recently published a report, proposing protection for the and surrounding areas 12. 2

Oarweed (Laminaria digitata) and red algae., Denmark. OCEANA/ Carlos Suárez Possible threats and management proposals Oxygen depletion occurs regularly in the inner waters of Denmark, and is particularly a problem in the southern part of because of its duration and intensity 13. Mussel dredging also occurs even inside N2000 sites 14, and is a major threat to the targeted blue mussels, and the associated benthic fauna and sea grass meadows. Eutrophication and pollution in the Belt Sea threaten the Zostera marina eelgrass community. Harbour porpoises are often caught as bycatch and actions should be undertaken to minimize this threat. A management plan should address all the above mentioned threats, particularly with regards to the threatened and in decline communities and species. 3

11 References 1 Blæsbjerg M., Abel C., Andersen S. M., Flensted K. N., Jørgensen H. M., Meltofte H., Moshøj C., Nicolajsen S. V., Sveegaard S., Vikstrøm T. & Winter H. L. 2012. Havets natur et oplæg til handleplan for Danmarks marine biodiversitet. Det Grønne Kontaktudvalg. 47 pp. 2 Blæsbjerg M., Abel C., Andersen S. M., Flensted K. N., Jørgensen H. M., Meltofte H., Moshøj C., Nicolajsen S. V., Sveegaard S., Vikstrøm T. & Winter H. L. 2012. Havets natur et oplæg til handleplan for Danmarks marine biodiversitet. Det Grønne Kontaktudvalg. 47 pp. 3 Hansen, J. W. (red) 2012. Marine områder 2011. NOVANA. Aarhus Universitet, DCE Nationalt Center for Miljø og Energi, 154 pp. Videnskabelig rapport fra DCE Nationalt Center for Miljø og Energi nr. 34. Available at: http://www.dmu.dk/pub/sr34.pdf [Viewed 28 February 2013]. 4 OSPAR 2009. Background Document for Zostera beds, Seagrass beds. Biodiversity Series. 38 pp. 5 OSPAR 2008. Case Reports for the OSPAR List of Threatened and/or Declining Species and Habitats. Biodiversity Series. 261 pp. 6 Hansen, J. W. (red) 2012. Marine områder 2011. NOVANA. Aarhus Universitet, DCE Nationalt Center for Miljø og Energi, 154 pp. Videnskabelig rapport fra DCE Nationalt Center for Miljø og Energi nr. 34. Available at: http://www.dmu.dk/pub/sr34.pdf [Viewed 28 February 2013]. 7 Blæsbjerg M., Abel C., Andersen S. M., Flensted K. N., Jørgensen H. M., Meltofte H., Moshøj C., Nicolajsen S. V., Sveegaard S., Vikstrøm T. & Winter H. L. 2012. Havets natur et oplæg til handleplan for Danmarks marine biodiversitet. Det Grønne Kontaktudvalg. 47 pp. 8 The Danish Nature Agency 2012. Danmarks Havstrategi Basisanalyse. Miljøministeriet. 9 Hansen, J. W. (red) 2012. Marine områder 2011. NOVANA. Aarhus Universitet, DCE Nationalt Center for Miljø og Energi, 154 pp. Videnskabelig rapport fra DCE Nationalt Center for Miljø og Energi nr. 34. Available at: http://www.dmu.dk/pub/sr34.pdf [Viewed 28 February 2013]. 10 The Danish Nature Agency 2012. Danmarks Havstrategi Basisanalyse. Miljøministeriet. 11 The Danish Nature Agency 2012. Danmarks Havstrategi Basisanalyse. Miljøministeriet. 12 Blæsbjerg M., Abel C., Andersen S. M., Flensted K. N., Jørgensen H. M., Meltofte H., Moshøj C., Nicolajsen S. V., Sveegaard S., Vikstrøm T. & Winter H. L. 2012. Havets natur et oplæg til handleplan for Danmarks marine biodiversitet. Det Grønne Kontaktudvalg. 47 pp. 13 Hansen, J. W. (red) 2012. Marine områder 2011. NOVANA. Aarhus Universitet, DCE Nationalt Center for Miljø og Energi, 154 pp. Videnskabelig rapport fra DCE Nationalt Center for Miljø og Energi nr. 34. Available at: http://www.dmu.dk/pub/sr34.pdf [Viewed 28 February 2013]. 14 The Danish AgriFish Agency: http://naturerhverv.fvm.dk/default.aspx?id=46773&pid=414875&newsid=7940&action=1&u tm_source=foedevareerhvervs_nyhedsbrev&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nyhedsbrev [Viewed 1 March 2013]. Moon jellyfish (Aurelia aurita) and eelgrass (Zostera marina)., Denmark. OCEANA/ Carlos Suárez 4

Species list for Table 1: List of species in the proposal area in 2012, listed by depth and threat category. Depth (m) Species 19-22 PORIFERA Haliclona oculata CNIDARIA Abietinaria abietina Aurelia aurita Campanulariidae sp. Halecium halecinum Sagartiogeton undatus ANNELIDA Nereis sp. Pomatoceros triqueter Scoloplos cf. armiger MOLLUSCA Arctica islandica Buccinidae sp. Buccinum undatum Cardiidae sp. Modiolus modiolus Mya cf. truncata Mytilus sp. Parvicardium ovale CRUSTACEA Balanus sp. Carcinus maenas Orchestia cf. gammarellus Pagurus bernhardus Semibalanus balanoides BRYOZOA Flustra foliacea ECHINODERMATA Asterias rubens Echinocyamus cf. pusillus Ophiura albida Ophiura sp. Psammechinus miliaris Strongylocentrotus cf. droebachiensis 5

11 Table 1: List of species in the proposal area in 2012, listed by depth and threat category. Depth (m) Species TUNICATA Ciona intestinalis Dendrodoa grossularia FISH Myoxocephalus scorpius Pholis gunnellus Pleuronectes platessa (probably declining, HELCOM) Pleuronectidae sp. 13-16 CNIDARIA Abietinaria abietina Aurelia aurita Cyanea cf. capillata Cyanea cf. lamarckii Eutonina indicans MOLLUSCA Arctica islandica Modiolus modiolus Mytilus sp. CRUSTACEA Balanus crenatus Balanus sp. Carcinus maenas Pagurus bernhardus BRYOZOA Electra crustulenta Flustra foliacea Securiflustra securifrons ECHINODERMATA Asterias rubens TUNICATA Ciona intestinalis FISH Agonus cataphractus Ctenolabrus rupestris Pholis gunnellus Pleuronectes platessa (probably declining, HELCOM) Pomatoschistus microps Zoarces viviparus 6

Table 1: List of species in the proposal area in 2012, listed by depth and threat category. Depth (m) Species PHAEOPHYCEAE Laminaria latissima ANGIOSPERMAE Zostera marina (only pieces found) 6-10 CNIDARIA Actinia equina Aurelia aurita Cyanea capillata Laomedea cf. flexuosa Metridium senile Obelia geniculata Sagartiogeton laceratus Tubularia larynx ANNELIDA Arenicola marina Pomatoceros triqueter Spirorbis spirorbis MOLLUSCA Arctica islandica Buccinum undatum Ensis sp. Littorina littorea Modiolus modiolus Mytilus sp. Pododesmus patelliformis Testudinalia testudinalis CRUSTACEA Balanus balanus Balanus crenatus Balanus improvisus Carcinus maenas BRYOZOA Electra pilosa Flustra foliacea Membranipora membranacea ECHINODERMATA Asterias rubens Psammechinus miliaris Strongylocentrotus cf. droebachiensis 7

11 Table 1: List of species in the proposal area in 2012, listed by depth and threat category. Depth (m) Species TUNICATA Dendrodoa grossularia Molgula cf. citrina FISH Ctenolabrus rupestris Gobiusculus flavescens Myoxocephalus scorpius Pholis gunnellus Pomatoschistus microps Zoarces cf. viviparus MAMMALIA Phocoena phocoena (LC, IUCN) RHODOPHYCEAE Delesseria sanguinea Hildenbrandia rubra Lithothamnion glaciale Phycodrys rubens PHAEOPHYCEAE Fucus serratus Fucus vesiculosus Halosiphon tomentosus Laminaria digitata Laminaria latissima ANGIOSPERMAE Zostera marina Table 2: List of habitats and communities in the proposal area in 2012, and their threat category. Habitats and communities Macrophyte meadow Modiolus bed Zostera marina meadow Red list category Threatened and/or declining (HELCOM) Threatened and/or declining (OSPAR) Threatened and/or declining (OSPAR) This report was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Arcadia Fund, Robertson Foundation, VELUX Foundations and Zennström Philanthropies. Nyhavn 16, 4 sal 1051 Copenhagen (Denmark) Phone: +45 33151160 baltic@oceana.org 8