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Red coral is one of the most important species belonging to the coralligenous habitats, being a structuring organism and highly sensitive to human pressure. The presence of red coral populations is historically well documented along the Campania coast (Tyrrhenian Sea), and, due to its high economic value, it has been commercially overharvested since ancient times. Red coral populations along several cliffs on the "Regno di Nettuno" MPA of the Gulf of Naples were investigated using ROV-imaging techniques. Coralligenous habitats were characterized in terms of percent cover and number of morphological groups. Pizzaco site showed the richest and most diverse community. Density of red coral colonies was calculated and compared with morphometric parameters. Results show an inversely correlated trend between colonies density and their size. Finally, fishing pressure was estimated through frequency of lost fishing gears, and S. Angelo site resulted the most stressed one. Anthropic stress plays a key role in the degradation of coralligenous habitats and the dramatic reduction of red coral populations recorded in recent years allows to suspect a more extensive degradation of the entire community. An assessment of the distribution and state of the populations can provide useful information to take measures for a better MPAs management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New records of the rare Messina rockfishScorpaenodes arenai(Osteichthyes: Scorpaenidae) stranded on the Sicilian coast of the Strait of Messina (central Mediterranean Sea) are reported. Morphometric and meristic characters are given together with information on age data. The first underwater observations by remotely operated vehicle (ROV) in different Mediterranean areas contribute to improve current knowledge on distribution, behavior and habitat preference of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global interest in the assessment of quality condition of some benthic habitats on hard bottoms, such as the coralligenous bioconstruction particularly important for the biodiversity maintenance in the Mediterranean Sea, is recently increasing. Using a synthesis of recent knowledge and ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicles) imaging data acquired in the Bay of Naples (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy), the Coralligenous Bioconstruction Quality Index (CBQI) was developed. This new index can compare different types of coralligenous habitat (rocky cliffs, submerged shoals, and platform banks) located at both shallow and deep bottoms, and calculate their quality status taking into account coralligenous communities structuring, bottom abiotic factors and anthropic stress evaluation. The data analysis was relatively fast and easy to perform due to the use of morphological groups for coralligenous characterization and anthropic impact categories mainly related to fishing activities. The CBQI may provide a useful tool for the establishment of monitoring protocols and management programs to assess the quality of coralligenous bioconstructions, in different areas of Mediterranean Sea, since it takes into account and discerns the change in communities due to environmental characteristics and/or to anthropic pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]