Publication Abstract

The joint ICES/NAFO Working Group on Deep-water Ecology (WGDEC) deals with the biology and conservation of deep-sea habitats in the North Atlantic. Working Group experts collate new information on the distribution of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs) and fishing activities within ICES ecoregions (including the NEAFC Convention Area) and the NAFO Convention Area for use in ICES advisory processes. This information assists the development of new methods to improve the understanding of deep-sea ecosystems and informs the implementation of management tools to afford the protection of VMEs.

During the 2025 meeting, WGDEC reviewed new information on the occurrence and distribution of VMEs, VME indicator taxa and VME elements that were submitted in response to the ICES VME data call (November 2024), including those arising in the NEAFC Convention Area, as well as subareas of the Regulatory Area that are closed to fishing for other purposes than VME protection.

New data on VMEs is available from areas within the Barents Sea, Celtic Seas, Greater North Sea, Norwegian Sea and Oceanic Northeast Atlantic ecoregions. A total of 983 new VME indicator presence records and 157 absence (non-detection) records were accepted into the ICES VME database. There was a total of 50 new VME indicator presence records and 57 absence records re-ported within the 400 – 800 m depth zone of the EU portion (Irish EEZ) of the Celtic Seas ecoregion. A total of 44 new VME indicator records were reported for the Oceanic Northeast Atlantic ecoregion/NEAFC regulatory area (RA1), of which 5 records were reported from the portion of Rockall Bank that lies within NEAFC RA1. Five new VME indicator records for the NEAFC portion of the Barents Sea ecoregion were also received. All new validated data and outputs of the VME weighting algorithm, displaying the likelihood of VME presence (VME Index), were mapped to support ICES in providing advice on the distribution of VMEs in the North Atlantic. New VMS data from NEAFC was analysed by the Working Group on Spatial Fisheries Data (WGSFD), and outputs were used by WGDEC to assess the patterns of fishing activity in the vicinity of VMEs in the NEAFC Convention Area.

A further objective of the 2025 meeting was to continue the work addressing the limitations and validation of the VME index. An approach was suggested and agreed where a core group would continue the intersessional work in advance of a workshop to be held in advance of the VME benchmark planned for 2027. Potential workshop ToRs were suggested, and an intersessional meeting organised for autumn 2025.

Finally, an additional key activity in 2025 was an analysis correlated the biological traits of VME indicator species with their sensitivity to static fishing gear. Using a traits table developed from literature and expert knowledge, the group scored and mapped species' sensitivity. A main finding of the group is that there is a critical distinction between sensitivity (an organism's intrinsic response to pressure) and vulnerability (which also includes exposure and resilience). Therefore, accurately assessing vulnerability requires more detailed data on both VME species (distribution, abundance, and resilience traits) and specific fishing activities (as specific fishing gear con-figurations and effort intensity).

Peter Auster; Neil Campbell; Ana Colaço; Anna Downie*; Guillem Corbera; Laura Grady; Kerry Howell; José Manuel González Irusta; Haleigh Joyce; Felicia Keulder-Stenevik; Neus Campanyà I Llovet; Erik Lund-Tønnesen; Lenaïck Menot; Javier Murillo-Perez; Cova Orejas; Tabitha Pearman; Andrea Perreault; Maria Rakka; Karin van der Reijden; Chris Rooper; Marina Parra Carreiro e Silva; David Stirling; Ana De La Torriente Diez; Sebastian Valanko; Rui Vieira*; Beatriz Vinha

ICES/NAFO Joint Working Group on Deep-Water Ecology (WGDEC)