FALSE Archives

Aggregated Clumps of Lithistid Sponges: A Singular, Reef-Like Bathyal Habitat with Relevant Paleontological Connections

The advent of deep-sea exploration using video cameras has uncovered extensive sponge aggregations in virtually all oceans. Yet, a distinct type is herein reported from the Mediterranean: a monospecific reef-like formation built by the lithistid demosponge Leiodermatium pfeifferae. Erect, plate-like individuals (up to 80 cm) form bulky clumps, making up to 1.8 m high mounds … Read more

Coherent assessments of Europe’s marine fishes show regional divergence and megafauna loss

Europe has a long tradition of exploiting marine fishes and is promoting marine economic activity through its Blue Growth strategy. This increase in anthropogenic pressure, along with climate change, threatens the biodiversity of fishes and food security. Here, we examine the conservation status of 1,020 species of European marine fishes and identify factors that contribute … Read more

Changing Paradigms in Seagrass Restoration

Sharing experiences and results among scientists and managers working on seagrass restoration was the main objective of the first European Seagrass Restoration Workshop that gathered researchers from around Europe. The meeting was the first forum in Europe that allowed for scientists, NGOs, and managers to interact and share their experiences relating to seagrass restoration and … Read more

An estimate of the total catch in the Spanish Mediterranean Sea and Gulf of Cadiz regions (1950-2010)

The underestimation of fisheries removals is a global issue that spans countries from different continents and different socio-economic situations. Underestimation of catches is especially important in countries where fishing fleets are highly diversified, the enforcement of fishing management is low, data availability is poor, and there is high demand for fish products in local markets. … Read more

New depth record of the precious red coral Corallium rubrum for the Mediterranean

Live colonies of the precious red coral Corallium rubrum have previously been recorded at depths of 600-800 m in the Sicily Channel, but deep-water populations of this species remain poorly known. During a recent research expedition within the 25 nautical mile Fisheries Management Zone around the Maltese Islands, numerous colonies growing deeper than 800 m, … Read more

The need of cartography for coralligenous and rhodoliths beds along the Mediterranean Sea: The Balearic Islands case

Coralligenous and rhodoliths beds are two types of biogenic habitats, structured by calcareous red algae. Widely distributed along the Mediterranean Sea, these formations create complex three-dimensional structures, where countless marine species –including those of high commercial value and endangered ones– feed, rest and nest. These characteristics confer the two habitats a great ecological and economic … Read more

Importance of seamounts-like features for Mediterranean marine habitats and threatened species

Oceana’s exploratory ROV’s dives in Western Mediterranean seamounts have collected more than 300 hours of video from deepsea ecosystem. Findings of threatened species and habitats, like carnivorous sponges, elasmobranches, coral gardens, sponge aggregations, coralligenous beds, etc. or even new species for science like giant foraminifera (Astrorhizidae), or new species for the Mediterranean (i.e. Anomocora fecunda), … Read more

Current Status and distribution of the Madreporaria Dendrophyllia laboreli in the Canaries, South Portugal and Mediterranean Sea

New records of the Dendrophylliidae species Dendrophyllia laboreli in the Mediterranean Sea (Alboran basin), South Portugal and also in the Canaries are biogeographically relevant. The presence in the Mediterranean Sea and the recent wide distribution towards new locations in Canary Islands of such species is discussed in relation to the climatic fluctuations. In the Canaries … Read more

Marine Insurance and IUU Fishing: Questions and answers

OCEANA IS MOBILISING THE GLOBAL MARINE INSURANCE INDUSTRY IN TAKING ACTION AGAINST ILLEGAL, UNREPORTED AND UNREGULATED (IUU) FISHING. Read and sign the statement: Assisting ocean stewardship through marine insurance: The insurance industry’s statement against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU fishing) In the coming months and years, Oceana is hoping to engage in open dialogue with insurers, working with them to develop … Read more

Recent evidence that the deep sea around Malta is a biodiversity hotspot

Recent ROV surveys of deep-sea areas around the Maltese Islands resulted in the discovery of highly diverse habitats, including extensive rocky areas dominated by living cold water corals and gorgonians at depths of 300–1000 m, a sub-fossil lithistid sponge reef at a depth of ca. 300 m, deep-water caves located at 270–450 m, and vast … Read more