FantasticSearch

VME INDICATOR SPECIES The following is a list of seven habitat types as well as physical elements for the Regulatory Area, with the taxa most likely to be found in these habitats, which shall be considered as VME indicators.

1. Cold-water coral reef (a) Lophelia pertusa reef (b) Solenosmilia variabilis reef Lophelia pertusa Solenosmilia variabilis 2. Coral garden (a) Hard-bottom garden (i) Hard-bottom gorgonian and black coral gardens Anthothelidae Chrysogorgiidae Isididae, Keratoisidinae Plexauridae Acanthogorgiidae Coralliidae Paragorgiidae Primnoidae Schizopathidae (ii) Colonial scleractinians on rocky outcrops Lophelia pertusa Solenosmilia variabilis (iii) Non-reefal scleractinian aggregations Enallopsammia rostrata Madrepora oculata (b) Soft-bottom coral gardens (i) Soft-bottom gorgonian and black coral gardens Chrysogorgiidae (ii) Cup-coral fields Caryophylliidae Flabellidae (iii) Cauliflower coral fields Nephtheidae 3. Deep-sea sponge aggregations Other sponge aggregations Geodiidae Ancorinidae Pachastrellidae Hard-bottom sponge gardens Axinellidae Mycalidae Polymastiidae Tetillidae Glass sponge communities Rossellidae Pheronematidae Seapen fields Anthoptilidae Pennatulidae Funiculinidae Halipteridae Kophobelemnidae Protoptilidae Umbellulidae Vigulariidae Tube-dwelling anemone patches Cerianthidae Mud- and sand-emergent fauna Bourgetcrinidae Antedontidae Hyocrinidae Xenophyophora Syringamminidae Bryzoan patches

Physical elements Explanation Isolated seamounts Non-MAR seamounts Steep-slopes and peaks on mid-ocean ridges Steep ridges and peaks support coral gardens and other VME species in high density Knolls A typographic feature that rises less than 1 000 m from the seafloor Canyon-like features A steep-sided ‘catchment’ feature not necessarily associated with a shelf, island or bank margin Steep flanks >6,4 From NAFO SCR Doc. 11/73