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El análisis morfotectónico del sector central del Promontorio Balear, entre las islas de Ibiza y Mallorca, mediante batimetría multihaz y perfiles sísmicos de muy alta resolución ha permitido diferenciar varios rasgos morfológicos relacionados con la tectónica a dos escalas. Los elementos de gran escala, de dirección NE-SO, son: i) el escarpe Émile Baudot; ii) el monte submarino Émile Baudot, y iii) la alineación de montes submarinos Ausiàs March y Ses Olives. Los elementos de pequeña escala son: i) dos elevaciones longitudinales (ENE-OSO); ii) escarpes rectilíneos (NO-SE a NE-SO); iii) depresiones tectónicas (NNE SSO a NE-SO); y iv) alineaciones rectilíneas de pockmarks (NO-SE a NNE-SSO). Los elementos de mayor tamaño responden a la configuración estructural neógeno-cuaternaria. El escarpe Émile Baudot limita el Promontorio Balear y la cuenca oceánica del Mediterráneo Occidental. La alineación de montes submarinos Ausiàs March y Ses Olives está generada por una fase extensional, y el monte submarino Émile Baudot forma parte de una alineación volcánica NO-SE asociada a la Zona de Fractura de Ibiza. Los elementos de pequeña escala están relacionados con estructuras tectónicas activas que deforman las unidades sedimentarias del Cuaternario y el fondo marino. Las elevaciones longitudinales están generadas por pliegues anticlinales, mientras que el resto de estructuras están asociadas a la actividad de fallas normales de buzamiento alto. A morphotectonic analysis has been carried out between the islands of Ibiza and Majorca in the central sector of the Balearic Promontory using multibeam bathymetry and very high-resolution seismic profiles. Several morphological features related to tectonics at two different scales have been differentiated. The large-scale features have a NE-SW direction, they are: i) the Émile Baudot Escarpment; ii) the Émile Baudot seamount, and iii) the Ausiàs March and Ses Olives seamounts alignment. The differentiated small-scale elements are i) two longitudinal elevations (ENE-WSW); ii) rectilinear scarps (NW-SE to NE-SW); iii) tectonic depressions limited by one or two scarps (NNE-SSW to NE-SW), and iv) rectilinear pockmarks alignments (NW-SE to NNE-SSW). The largest elements respond to the Neogene-Quaternary structural configuration. The Émile Baudot escarpment is the limit between the Balearic Promontory and the Western Mediterranean oceanic basin. The alignment of the Ausiàs March and Ses Olives seamounts respond to the last extensional phase, and the Émile Baudot seamount forms part of a NW-SE volcanic alignment that could be associated with the Ibiza Fracture Zone. The smaller elements are related to active tectonic structures that deform Quaternary sedimentary units and the seafloor. The longitudinal elevations correspond to anticlinal folds, while the rest of the structures are associated to the activity of near vertical normal faults.

Research in marine Spanish waters are focused on several actions to achieve an effectively management on protected areas, with the active participation of the stakeholders and research as basic tools for decision-making. Among these actions, there is one about the knowledge and control on NIS. One of its objectives is the creation of NIS factsheets, which are going to be added to the National Marine Biodiversity Geographical System (GIS) providing complementary information about taxonomic classification, common names, taxonomic synonyms, species illustrations, identification morphological characters, habitat in the native and introduced regions, biological and ecological traits, GenBank DNA sequences, world distribution, first record and evolution in the introduced areas, likely pathways of introduction, effects in the habitats and interaction with native species, and potential management measures to apply. The database will also provide data for (1) the European online platforms, (2) the environmental assessment for the Descriptor 2 (D2-NIS) of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), as well as (3) supporting decisions made by stakeholders. It is the result of extensive collaboration among scientist, manager’s and citizen science in the Spanish North-Atlantic, South-Atlantic, Gibraltar Strait-Alboran, Levantine-Balearic and Canary Islands marine divisions, providing an updated overview of the spatial distribution of relevant extended and invasive NIS of recent and established NIS introduced by maritime transport and aquaculture pathways, as well as on cryptogenic or native species in expansion due to the climatic water warming trend.

Es una presentación oral sobre los trabajos realizados por personal del IEO, en relación a la elaboración de una "Style Layer Descriptor" SLD, que permite asociar una simbología común a los objetos existentes en el MSP INSPIRE Data model, desarrollado por ECOACUA. Se trata de una comunicación oral presentada en el Workshop MS11: Ready to use MSP products, enmarcado en el proyecto MSP-OR. Advancing Maritime Spatial Planning in Outermost Regions. En este workshop se muestras productos generados en otros proyectos de MSP que son de utilidad. En esta presentación se exponen los trabajos de elaboración de una SLD (Style Layer Descriptor) con el objetivo de estandarizar la simbología para el MSP INSPIRE Data model, realizados en el proyecto MARSP. MINISTERIO DE CIENCIA E INNOVACIÓN. CSIC. CN INSTITUTO ESPAÑOL DE OCEANOGRAFÍA. UNION EUROPEA.

The biogeographic region known as European Macaronesia comprises the archipelagos of the Azores, Canary Islands and Madeira in the Atlantic Ocean. The collective exclusive economic zones surrounding the archipelagos is a vast area of approximately two million km2. The Directive 2014/89/EU of the European Union (EU) obliged EU Member States, including their archipelagos, to pursue sustainable use of their waters through Marine Spatial Planning (MSP). Planning the large marine areas of the Macaronesia is not an easy endeavour, particularly when establishing the domestic frameworks for MSP implies sharing of competences among national and subnational authorities and is dependent on inter-departmental collaboration. Furthermore, the complexity of MSP arrangements, including legislation, governance, planning processes and documentation, is a barrier to coherent regional MSP and the application of the ecosystem approach, due to a lack of understanding across borders. This paper reviews and synthetises the national and subnational frameworks for MSP in the Macaronesian archipelagos. It also compares the principles guiding MSP in each archipelago to determine the coherence across the region, with the aim of outlining the basis for transboundary cooperation in the European Macaronesia., SI

Poster para Congreso The Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) INSPIRE data model concept has been developing from 2014, applying Infrastructure for spatial information in Europe Directive 2007/2/EC (INSPIRE) data management concepts for marine planning, through the Marine Pilot project (EC Joint Research Centre 2014-2016) and continuing with the PLASMAR project (INTERREG–V 2017-2020). The results and findings delivered have been published in the paper “Maritime spatial planning supported by infrastructure for spatial information in Europe (INSPIRE)” (Abramic et al., 2018). Currently, there are difficulties in harmonising products, visions, maps and frameworks of maritime spatial plans delivered by countries sharing the same marine (sub)region. This is mainly due to the fact that maritime plans do not use a common symbology and data structure to describe maritime activities. A solution for this issue is to apply on a marine spatial plans, INSPIRE standards for data sets, layers and portrayals. The MarSP project was a perfect opportunity to finalise conceptual data model development and, what is more important, to test results applying it on the real use cases, developed in the Macaronesia (Azores, Madeira, Canaries) MSP process. Initially, the INSPIRE data model for terrestrial planning (Planned Land Use, Figure 1) was tested to see if it could be applied for MSP. Tests pointed out that the terrestrial data model is robust, and can map MSP’s, but it tends to lose detail and specific information on marine uses. To be applied for MSP, the Planned Land Use data model needs to be adapted for planning of the maritime activities in the marine space. Conceptual model was analyzed, adapted, applying data modeling techniques, adjusting for MSP requirements: 1. Developed conceptual MSP data model, extending Planned Land use, using Unified Model Language (Figure 2); 2. Extending spatial scope of the data model - from two-dimensional land planning to the three dimensions planning. Extended structure includes maritime activities within the sea surface, water column, seabed and subsoil, when land model consists mainly of land surface planning; 3. Developed specific maritime uses classification (including register), extending Hierarchical INSPIRE Land Use classification (HILUCS); 4. Developed MSP data model templates, using simplified and feature complex spatial data architectures. Different type of codification templates, for advanced, standard and rookie GIS users (gml, GeoPackage, Shapfile, available at Canaries MSP platform); 5. Styled Layer Descriptor (color & simbology layout) for MSP, based on International Hydrographic Organization standards. 6. Data specification document v1.0 for Maritime Spatial Planning INSPIRE data model MarSP 2nd capacity building workshop was a great opportunity to test MSP data model results. Participants were trained on how to apply MSP data model on selected use case (Madeira MSP draft), during the “hands on” session, discussing potential issues and technical solutions. MarSP

The Spanish Institute of Oceanography is responsible, among other aspects, for scientifc and technical advice for the Government’s fsheries policy as well as for the protection and sustainability of the marine environment. In this task, it generates a large amount of oceanographic data characterized by its spatial dispersion during acquisition as well as by its diferent typology. The purpose of both the National Oceanographic Data Center and the GIS team is to safeguard data and to disclose what data exists and where, how and when it has been acquired and, in addition, to provide access to that data through the collaboration with diferent international data infrastructures like EMODnet or SeaDataNet. To this end, the data and metadata are subjected to quality control and formatted for integration into a national Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI). This SDI has a GeoNetwork catalogue with ~ 1750 oceanographic campaigns, together with (meta)data and services that are continuously being revised and incorporated. All this with the ultimate goal of making the data increasingly FAIR.

Macaronesian Maritime Spatial Planning - MarSP, MAMAR-SP

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Report on the environmental monitoring (geophysics, seabed sampling, physical and chemical characteristics, and planton) made on the submarine volcano of Tagoro (El Hierro Islands) to evaluate the degree of affection and recovery on the marine ecosystem of the last volcanic eruption in the Canary region, making it extendable to other regions of the Canary Islands of possible hydrothermal or volcanological interest. In this sense, the "Enmedio" volcano has been investigated, between the islands of Gran Canaria and Tenerife., Instituto Español de Oceanografía

AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION

El objetivo principal del proyecto “Physico-chemical, biological and geological study of an underwater volcano in a degassing stage: Island of El Hierro”, (VULCANO-II) es estudiar, desde un punto de vista totalmente interdisciplinar, la fase de desgasificación activa del único volcán submarino monitoreado desde su nacimiento en aguas españolas. De esta forma, se pretende además, dar continuidad a los estudios multidisciplinares realizados sobre el volcán submarino de la isla de El Hierro en el contexto del proyecto del Plan Nacional VULCANO-I, (CTM2012-36317) y VULCANA (Vulcanología Canaria Submarina, IEO). Para ello, se realizará la monitorización de las propiedades físico-químicas, biológicas y geológicas del proceso eruptivo submarino de la isla de El Hierro y otros puntos sensibles, como el volcán de Enmedio entre Gran Canaria y Tenerife

Knowledge of the distribution and extent of seagrass habitats is currently the basis of management and conservation policies of the coastal zones in most European countries. This basic information is being requested through European directives for the establishment of monitoring programmes and the implementation of specific actions to preserve the marine environment. In addition, this information is crucial for the quantification of the ecological importance usually attributed to seagrass habitats due to, for instance, their involvement in biogeochemical cycles, marine biodiversity and quality of coastal waters or global carbon budgets. The seagrass atlas of Spain represents a huge collective effort performed by 84 authors across 30 Spanish institutions largely involved in the scientific research, management and conservation of seagrass habitats during the last three decades. They have contributed to the availability of the most precise and realistic seagrass maps for each region of the Spanish coast which have been integrated in a GIS to obtain the distribution and area of each seagrass species. Most of this information has independently originated at a regional level by regional governments, universities and public research organisations, which explain the elevated heterogeneity in criteria, scales, methods and objectives of the available information. On this basis, seagrass habitats in Spain occupy a total surface of 1,541,63 km2, 89% of which is concentrated in the Mediterranean regions; the rest is present in sheltered estuarine areas of the Atlantic peninsular regions and in the open coastal waters of the Canary Islands, which represents 50% of the Atlantic meadows. Of this surface, 71.5% corresponds to Posidonia oceanica, 19.5% to Cymodocea nodosa, 3.1% to Zostera noltii (=Nanozostera noltii), 0.3% to Zostera marina and 1.2% to Halophila decipiens. Species distribution maps are presented (including Ruppia spp.), together with maps of the main impacts and pressures that has affected or threatened their conservation status, as well as the management tools established for their protection and conservation. Despite this considerable effort, and the fact that Spain has mapped wide shelf areas, the information available is still incomplete and with weak precision in many regions, which will require an investment of major effort in the near future to complete the whole picture and respond to demands of EU directives. Versión del editor

Comunicación presentada al V Simposio Internacional de ciencias del Mar celebrado en alicante entre el 20 y el 22 de julio de 2016. Between October 2011 and March 2012 a submarine volcanic eruption took place at the offshore of El Hierro Island. The extensive study of the eruption and subsequent degassing process has allowed monitoring the newly generated volcanic edifice. Multibeam bathymetric has enabled building a digital high-resolution bathymetric model (grid 1x1 m). The preliminary analysis of the geomorphology of this volcanic eruption displays four main features: i) the edifice consists of a principal and a series of secondary cones distributed in NW-SE trend; ii) two escarpments NE-SW directed that partially match with inherited flanks of the previously existing valley; iii) three crests, one of them interpreted as the prolongation of a NE-SW scarp and the other as the head of gravitational instabilities of NE-SW and N-S direction at the main hill; and iv) mixed lava and dense pyroclastic flows extended from the volcanic edifice to the southwest and characterized by a high slope front, that probably represents the maximum distance reached by the main lava products. Versión del editor

Marine Knowledge 2020 brings together marine data from different sources with the aim to help researches, public authorities, etc., finding the data and making more effective the use and the develop of new products and services, and improving our understanding of how the seas behave. On this way, it is necessary to develop tools and platforms to provide accessibility to marine information. The UE is developing several initiatives on this way. EMODnet is an initiative from the European Commission Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG-MARE) as part of its Marine Knowledge 2020 strategy. The EMODnet aim is finding, gathering, and elaborating contínuos layers about marine data resources, and to make these available to individuals and organizations (public and private), and therefore contribute to facilitating and increasing the scientific knowledge of marine environment through improved access to quality-assured, standardized and harmonized marine data. There are six sub-portals that providing access to marine data from the following themes: ditigal bathymetry, marine geology, physical oceanography, chemistry and pollution, marine biodiversity, seabed habitat mapping and human activities. IEO are implicated in the collecting data about bathymetry, physics, chemistry, biology and seabed habitats. The EMODNET BATHYMETRY PORTAL providing access to several DTMs about Atlantic Margin, including Macaronesia. This data provides a very importante bathymetric information of reference, to support to several multidisciplinary researches in the marine environment.

Technical advances in hydrographic studies of the seafloor and the progressive use of these techniques in oceanographic expeditions with scientific objectives, is generating greater collaborations between the hydrographic and oceanographic institutions. Coordination between the different institutions and the use of IHO criteria in the acquisition of bathymetric data in oceanographic expeditions, allow regional hydrographic offices to have an additional source of data for the improvement of the navigation charts. Meanwhile the Oceanographic Institutions will benefit by having validated bathymetric data of high precision. This product is of great interest in studies of submarine geological hazards where is necessary to have a very detailed knowledge of the seabed to determine possible morphological changes associated with the risk processes and the possible active structures. In addition, monitoring of active volcanoes need to have a good knowledge of changes in the physico-chemical properties of the water column, the possible changes in low intensity emissions (hot water, gas) can be detected with these studies in the overlying water masses. Versión del editor

Oral comunication about TPEA project, presented in The Europena Maritime Day, May 20th. 2014 Bremen, Germany.

Poster presentado en el SIEBM XVIII Simposio Ibérico de Biología Marina Since 1998 in the IEO is developing a MARINE GIS with the objective of organize, harmonize, standardize, integrated the geo-information of IEO. GIS tools are used in several projects carried out in the IEO related to study of living resources, natural resources, studies of evolution of natural phenomena, collecting data, marine spatial planning, etc.

Se integra información hidrográfica, geomorfológica, sedimentológica, biológica, sobre hábitats marinos y pesquera, para establecer las bases ecológicas necesarias para la protección y conservación del banco de Galicia, El banco de Galicia es un monte submarino profundo situado a 180 km de la costa gallega, con una cima situada entre los 650 y los 1.500 m de profundidad y rodeado de zonas abisales de más de 4.000 m de profundidad. El relieve de las montañas submarinas interactúa con la circulación oceánica modificando las condiciones de oligotrofismo imperantes en el mar profundo. El cambio de dirección de las corrientes marinas, al chocar con el banco, produce las llamadas columnas de Taylor que tienen como consecuencia giros sobre la cima y finalmente un enriquecimiento de las aguas que bañan el banco, lo que influye, a través de la cadena trófica, en las especies de cetáceos, aves y tortugas. Estas condiciones, junto al aislamiento de estos bancos, convierten a estos bancos en puntos calientes de biodiversidad. Esta teoría se ha visto corroborada por los estudios realizados en el proyecto INDEMARES, basados en dos campañas de investigación, dónde se ha encontrado una elevada biodiversidad y la presencia de hábitats vulnerables. El banco de Galicia está bañado por tres capas diferentes: la masa de agua central del Atlántico nordeste europeo (East North Atlantic Central Water: ENACW), por debajo de las aguas superficiales y hasta los 500-600 m; la masa de agua mediterránea (Mediterranean Outflow Water: MOW) y la masa de agua del Labrador (Labrador Sea Water: LSW), que es la capa más profunda. En cuanto al tipo de fondo, se encuentra roca en el área del flanco oriental y hacia el sureste y en los montes adyacentes como el Rucabado, distinguiendo claramente dos tipos en cuanto a la pendiente, correspondiendo con la roca plana de la cima y la roca en pendiente del borde del banco y paredes. En la cima se encuentran fondos de arenas medias, de reflectividad media y baja según el espesor de sedimento, y arenas finas en los fondos sedimentaruios de los flancos, a profundidades mayores de 1.500. En el banco se han identificado hasta el momento 793 especies, con taxones que superan las 100 especies como son moluscos, peces (con especial énfasis en los elasmobranquios), crustáceos y cnidarios. Este inventario incluye especies nuevas para la ciencia, primeras citas para aguas españolas y europeas y especies de gran interés científico y biogeográfico. Este último punto se explica por la situación del Banco entre regiones biogeográficas conectadas por corrientes y masas de agua. El estudio de las conexiones tróficas entre este elevado número de especies ha mostrado el reforzamiento de las rutas bentopelágicas (gambas y macrozooplancton) frente a las dietas epi- y endobentónicas más habituales en otros fondos equivalentes. Mediante técnicas de muestreo extractivas (arrastres, dragas) y de vídeo, y su proyección sobre la interpretación geomorfológica realizada a partir de la sonda multihaz, se ha obtenido una estimación de la distribución de los hábitats bentónicos del banco. Los hábitats identificados en fondos sedimentarios son 1) arenas medias con ofiuras Ophiacantidae y Flabellum chunii, 2) arenas medias con arrecife de corales profundos de Lophelia pertusa y/o Madrepora oculata, y 3) arenas finas con holoturias elasipódidas (Benthogone rosea). En fondos rocosos se han caracterizado los hábitats de 4) roca batial sin pendiente con gorgonias y corales negros, 5) roca batial de talud con comunidades de corales y esponjas, 6) roca batial de talud con corales blancos, bambú y negros, gorgonias y esponjas, 7) arrecife de corales profundos de Lophelia pertusa y/o Madrepora oculata y 8) roca con nódulos manganésicos. El único tipo de hábitat de la DH descrito en la zona es el 1.170 (arrecifes). Sólo se han incluido en la Directiva Hábitats como 1.170 aquellos que presentaban una densidad y diversidad suficientes para cumplir la definición de “arrecifes”. De los hábitats descritos en el banco (ver características ecológicas y biológicas más arriba) solo se han incluido en el 1.170 los arrecifes de corales blancos situados en las arenas medias de la cima del banco, los arrecifes de corales blancos de aguas frías de las especies Lophelia pertusa y Madrepora oculata sobre la roca de la cima del monte Rucabado, las comunidades de roca batial de talud de la ladera sur del banco constituidas por colonias de corales blancos de aguas frías de las especies Lophelia pertusa y Madrepora oculata, y una fauna acompañante muy diversa de escleractinias solitarias, corales bambú, corales negros, gorgonias y esponjas de gran porte, y el resto de zonas de roca batial de talud con comunidades de corales y esponjas. Muchos de los hábitats pueden ser incluidos en los listados de hábitat vulnerables de OSPAR, en los tipos jardines de coral, agregaciones de esponjas de profundidad, arrecifes de Lophelia y montículos carbonatados. En cuanto a las especies de interés para la protección, de las citadas en el banco, el delfín mular (Tursiops truncatus) y la tortuga boba (Caretta caretta) son las únicas especies que figuran en el Anexo II de la Directiva de Hábitats. Sin embargo, muchas epecies de elasmobranquis y algunos peces óseos son consideradas vulnerables, amenazadas o en declive según los criterios definidos por OSPAR y la lista roja de especies amenazadas de IUCN. Algunas de están protegidas por el reglamento europeo 1262/2012 que regula la pesca de especies profundas. La lejanía del banco respecto a los principales focos de presión y la ausencia casi total de presión pesquera hace que el grado de conservación sea muy alto, pudiéndose hablar de un ecosistema prácticamente prístino. Las recomendaciones para la gestión de esta zona van encaminadas a garantizar esta calidad ambiental actual., Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Comisión Europea Programa LIFE+, Fundación Biodiversidad

Se integra información hidrográfica, geomorfológica, sedimentológica, biológica, sobre hábitats marinos y pesquera, para establecer las bases ecológicas necesarias para la protección y conservación del Sur de Fuerteventura (Montes de Amanay y El Banquete), El proyecto INDEMARES ha permitido utilizar amplios medios económicos y personales para estudiar en detalle y desde múltiples perspectivas la zona del Sur de Fuerteventura (montes de Amanay y El Banquete). Se han aplicado metodologías para el estudio de la hidrografía, caracterizando la región, describiendo sus principales masas de agua y la hidrodinámica de las corrientes. También se ha abordado la geología de la zona, incluyendo levantamientos batimétricos, perfiles sísmicos, muestreos de sedimento y petrológicos, obteniendo modelos digitales del terreno, mapas de tipos de fondo, geomorfológicos. Se han caracterizado las comunidades bentopelágicas, demersales, epibentónicas y endobentónicas, prestando especial atención a aquellas que conforman o estructuran los hábitats sensibles cuyo inventariado y cartografía era objeto principal del proyecto. Los trabajos de identificación de hábitats se han realizado con muestreadores directos, pero también con muestreadores visuales, que han permitido hacer un mayor esfuerzo de muestreo sin aumentar el impacto sobre los fondos de la zona. Por otro lado se ha estudiado la huella pesquera de la zona por medio del análisis de los datos VMS y los cuadernos de pesca proporcionados por la SGP, además de una ardua labor a pie de puerto de entrevistas y encuestas. Toda la información ha sido gestionada y analizada por diferentes grupos de investigación de diferentes centros (Universidad de La Laguna, Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Políticas y Sociales, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar de Barcelona, Universidad de Barcelona, Centro de Investigaciones Medioambientales del Atlántico, Centro Oceanográfico de Santander y Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga del Instituto Español de Oceanografía, …), aunque el grueso de esta labor, además de la coordinación, se ha llevado a cabo en el Centro Oceanográfico de Canarias del Instituto Español de Oceanografía. Los resultados permiten tener un conocimiento profundo y multidisciplinar de la zona de estudio comparable a pocos proyectos de investigación marina en la Macaronesia. El estudio oceanográfico, el geológico, y el de las comunidades biológicas, ha permitido la caracterización de los hábitats de la zona, y su cartografiado mediante el intenso muestreo y la aplicación de análisis de idoneidad de hábitats., INDEMARES Project made possible to bring together economic and staff resources to study in detail, and from multiple perspectives, the area of South of Fuerteventura (Amanay and El Banquete Semounts). Methodologies have been applied to study hydrography, making a regional characterization, depicting main water masses, and current hydrodynamics. Geology has been tackled including bathymetric uplifting, seismic profiles, sediment and petrological sampling, obtaining digital terrain models, type of bottom maps, geomorphological maps, as an output. Benthopelagic, demersal, epibenthic and endobenthic communities have been characterized, paying special attention to sensitive habitats which inventory and mapping was the project’s main aim. Habitat identification has been made with direct and visual samplers, the latter making a major sampling effort possible without an increase of bottom impact. Moreover, fisheries footprint has been identified by Vessel Monitoring System data, together with logbooks from Secretaría General de Pesca (Fisheries Ministry), as well as a hard interviewing and surveying task at landing points. Information has been managed and analysed by different research groups from different Centres (Universidad de La Laguna, Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Políticas y Sociales, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar de Barcelona, Universidad de Barcelona, Centro de Investigaciones Medioambientales del Atlántico, Centro Oceanográfico de Santander y Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga del Instituto Español de Oceanografía), although the main body of the work, plus coordination, has been made by the Canary Islands Oceanographic Centre, from the Spanish Institute of Oceanography. Results let us have a multidisciplinary profound knowledge of the study zone, comparable to few other marine research projects off Macaronesia. The study about oceanography, geology and biologic communities has allowed the habitats characterization and mapping by means of intensive sampling and habitat suitability analysis., Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Comisión Europea Programa LIFE+, Fundación Biodiversidad

Se integra información hidrográfica, geomorfológica, sedimentológica, biológica y pesquera, para establecer la bases ecológicas necesarias para la protección y conservación del canal de Menorca, Resumen: El objetivo del proyecto Life+ INDEMARES es contribuir a la protección de la biodiversidad en los mares españoles mediante la identificación de espacios de valor para la Red Natura 2000. El proyecto incluye 10 áreas marinas de las cuales 3 están repartidas por la región biogeográfica atlántica, 5 en la mediterránea y 2 en la macaronésica. El área de estudio del presente informe se sitúa en la plataforma continental del canal de Menorca (Islas Baleares, Mediterráneo) entre 50 y 100 m de profundidad. Se encuentra entre las islas de Mallorca y Menorca y su plataforma se extiende a lo largo de 1.274 km2. Para la elaboración del presente informe se han tenido en cuenta estudios previos y fuentes de información existentes en la zona, generada a partir de proyectos y campañas desarrollados por el Instituto Español de Oceanografía y el Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente. También existe información de la parte más somera entre 0 y 50 m de profundidad (proyecto LIFE Posidonia y las ecocartografías del litoral). Se han desarrollado tres campañas de investigación oceanográfica: CANAL0209 en 2009, EQUIPAR0410 en 2010 y INDEMARES_CANAL0811 en 2011. En estas campañas se han tomado datos hidrográficos, acústicos, granulométricos y biológicos obtenidos con diferentes sistemas de muestreo. Para el estudio de la actividad pesquera se han utilizado datos provenientes de las hojas de venta diaria de la flota, entrevistas realizadas a patrones de embarcaciones de pesca artesanal, embarques a bordo de la flota de arrastre y registros de localización de la actividad de las embarcaciones de pesca de arrastre obtenidos a partir de los datos VMS (del inglés Vessel Monitoring System). Los principales resultados y conclusiones del proyecto son: 1. En la zona central del canal se ha detectado en los primeros 150 metros de la columna de agua la presencia de dos masas de aguas superficiales de origen atlántico que pueden cruzar los canales y su mezcla da lugar a la aparición de frentes oceánicos al norte o al sur de las islas que pueden afectar a la circulación regional de la zona. 2. Se han identificado diversos rasgos morfológicos (erosivos, tectónicos, biogénicos y otros) y se han diferenciado cuatro tipos fundamentales de fondos: fondo rocoso, fondo sedimentario de reflectividad alta, sedimento de reflectividad media y sedimento de baja reflectividad. 3. Presenta un muy buen estado de conservación, con una amplia distribución de especies y hábitats de interés para su conservación. 4. Se han inventariado 1.329 especies: 137 especies de algas que pertenecen al Filum Rhodophyta (86 especies), la Clase Phaeophyta (32 especies) y Filum Chlorophyta (18 especies); 301 especies de crustáceos, 242 de peces, 227 de moluscos, 126 de esponjas, 73 de ascidias, 55 de equinodermos, 49 de briozoos, 46 de cnidarios y 35 de anélidos. 5. Se han identificado 58 especies con alguna figura de protección, incluyendo 9 especies de aves, 9 mamíferos, 8 moluscos, 7 algas, 6 crustáceos, 6 peces, 4 poríferos, 3 equinodermos, 3 reptiles, 2 cnidarios y 1 fanerógama. 6. Los hábitats más característicos son biocenosis de coralígeno, mantos de maërl/rodolitos y biocenosis de detrítico costero que coexisten con diversas biocenosis ligadas diferentes especies de algas blandas. 7. Se ha observado una actividad relevante de la pesca de arrastre sobre los fondos de maërl/rodolitos, que ha experimentado un incremento significativo entre los años 2009 y 2012, provocando la existencia de un conflicto de intereses entre conservación y explotación. 8. Se encuentran zonas donde los fondos de maërl/rodolitos presentan coberturas muy altas y una buena conservación, pero se han detectado variaciones en la composición y forma de las especies de rodolitos que podrían tener su origen en la actividad de pesca de arrastre. 9. Las diferentes modalidades de pesca artesanal también tienen una importante presencia en la plataforma. El palangre de fondo y el trasmallo de langosta pueden afectar negativamente los ecosistemas bentónicos vulnerables ya que se realizan principalmente en afloramientos rocosos con presencia de coralígeno y fondos de maërl/rodolitos., The objective of the project Life+ INDEMARES is the biodiversity conservation of the Spanish seas by identifying valuable areas for the Natura 2000 network . The project includes 10 marine areas, 3 in the Atlantic biogeographical region, 5 in the Mediterranean and the 2 in the Macaronesian. The study area of this report is located in the continental shelf off Menorca channel (Balearic Islands, Mediterranean) between 50 and 100 m depth between the islands of Mallorca and Menorca and extends over 1.274 km2. For the elaboration of this report have been taken into account previous studies and existing information sources in the area, generated from projects and oceanographic surveys developed by the Spanish Institute of Oceanography and the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment. Information on habitats distribution also exists for the shallowest zone between 0 and 50 m depth (LIFE Posidonia project and Ecocartografías del litoral). Three oceanographic research surveys were developed: CANAL0209 in 2009 , EQUIPAR0410 in 2010 and INDEMARES_CANAL0811 in 2011. During these surveys hydrographic, acoustic, granulometric and biological data were obtained with different sampling systems. The commercial fisheries were analysed from data obtained from the daily sale bills of the commercial fleet, personal interviews with artisanal fishers, sampling on board the trawling fleet and records of the activity of the trawling fleet obtained from the Vessel Monitoring System. The main results and conclusions of the project are: 1. In the central area of the channel has been detected in the first 150 meters of the water column the presence of two surface waters of Atlantic origin able to cross the channel. The mixture of both water masses results in the formation of oceanic fronts north or south of the islands, which can affect the regional circulation in the area. 2. Several morphological features have been identified (erosive, tectonic, biogenic and others) and four bottoms types have been differentiated: rocky bottoms, sedimentary bottoms with high reflectivity, mean reflectivity sediment and sediment of low reflectivity. 3. The channel presents a very good conservation state, with a wide distribution of species and habitats of conservation interest. 4. 1.329 species have been inventoried: 137 algal species belonging to the phylum Rhodophyta (86 species), Class Phaeophyta (32 species) and Phylum Chlorophyta (18 species ), 301 species of crustaceans, 242 fish, 227 molluscs, 126 sponges, 73 ascidians, 55 echinoderms, 49 bryozoans , 46 cnidarians and 35 annelids. 5. 58 species have been identified with some legal protection figure, including 9 species of birds, 9 mammals, 8 molluscs, 7 algae, 6 crustaceans, 6 fishes, 4 porifera, 3 echinoderms, 3 reptiles, 2 cnidarians, 1 phanerogam. 6. The most characteristic habitats are coralligenous biocenosis, maerl/rhodoliths beds and biocenosis of the costal detritic bottoms associated with different soft algae species. 7. A significant activity of trawling on maërl/rhodoliths beds have been observed, which has experienced a significant increase between 2009 and 2012, causing a conflict of interest between conservation and exploitation. 8. Areas of maërl/rhodoliths beds with a very high coverage and good conservation exits, although some variations in the composition and morphology of maërl species have detected that could be originated from the intensive trawling activity. 9. The artisanal fisheries also have a significant presence on the continental shelf. The bottom longline and spiny lobster trammel net may adversely affect vulnerable benthic ecosystems because they are mostly deployed in rocky bottoms with coralligenous biocenosis and maërl/rhodoliths beds., Direcció General de Medi Rural i Marí del Govern de les Illes Balears, Fundación MarViva, Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Comisión Europea Programa Life

Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) is coming to prominence as a new approach to the governance of the seas and oceans. It is taking on international importance as maritime nations exert greater control over their territorial waters and, in many cases, over much more extensive exclusive economic zones (Jay, 2010; Schaefer & Barale, 2011). This is in the interests of reversing the environmental degradation of the seas and facilitating the sustainable use of marine resources, both for traditional uses, such as fishing and navigation, and newer uses, such as renewable energy and mariculture (Douvere, 2008). MSP is being encouraged worldwide by inter-governmental bodies, NGOs, stakeholder organisations and marine scientists and managers (Agardy, 2010; De Santo, 2011; HELCOM & OSPAR, 2003), and a growing number of nations are drawing up spatial plans to regulate the use of their marine territories, in a way analogous to land-use planning.

Marine Knowledge 2020 brings together marine data from different sources with the aim of helping industry, public authorities and researches find the data and make more effective use of the to develop new products and services, and improving our understanding of how the seas behave. On this way, it is necessary to develop tools and platforms to provide accessibility to marine information. The UE is developing several initiatives on this way. EMODnet is an initiative from the European Commission Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG-MARE) as part of its Marine Knowledge 2020 strategy. The EMODnet aim is to unlock fragmented and hidden marine data resources and to make these available to individuals and organizations (public and private), and to facilitate investment in sustainable coastal and offshore activities through improved access to quality-assured, standardized and harmonized marine data. There are six sub-portals in operation that provide access to marine data from the following themes: bathymetry, geology, physics, chemistry, biology, and seabed habitats. IEO are implicated in the collecting data about bathymetry, physics, chemistry, biology and seabed habitats.

Comunicación oral presentada en SIEBM XVIII Simposio Ibérico de Biología Marina The Transboundary Planning in the European Atlantic (TPEA) project is developing as response to the European Commission (DG Mare’s) call for a Project on Maritime Spatial Planning in the Atlantic, including Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay, in order to reflect the aim of the project, which is to deliver a commonly-agreed approach to cross-border MSP in the European Atlantic region. DG MARE - EU

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