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In addition to indirect support to fisheries, marine habitats also provide non-use benefits often overlooked in most bioeconomic models. We expand a dynamic bioeconomic fisheries model where presence of natural habitats reduces fishing cost via aggregation effects and supplies non-use benefits. The theoretical model is illustrated with an application to cold-water corals in Norway where two fishing methods are considered–destructive bottom trawl and non-destructive coastal gear. Non-use values of cold-water corals in Norway are estimated using a discrete choice experiment. Both the theoretical model and its empirical applications demonstrate how non-use values impact optimal fishing practices.

This study demonstrates how cold-water coral morphology and habitat distribution are shaped by local hydrodynamics, using high-definition video from Tisler Reef, an inshore reef in Norway. A total of 334 video frames collected on the north-west (NW) and south-east (SE) side of the reef were investigated for Lophelia pertusa coral cover and morphology and for the cover of the associated sponges Mycale lingua and Geodia sp. Our results showed that the SE side was a better habitat for L. pertusa (including live and dead colonies). Low cover of Geodia sp. was found on both sides of Tisler Reef. In contrast, Mycale lingua had higher percentage cover, especially on the NW side of the reef. Bush-shaped colonies of L. pertusa with elongated branches were the most abundant coral morphology on Tisler Reef. The highest abundance and density of this morphology were found on the SE side of the reef, while a higher proportion of cauliflower-shaped corals with short branches were found on the NW side. The proportion of very small L. pertusa colonies was also significantly higher on the SE side of the reef. The patterns in coral spatial distribution and morphology were related to local hydrodynamics—there were more frequent periods of downwelling currents on the SE side—and to the availability of suitable settling substrates. These factors make the SE region of Tisler Reef more suitable for coral growth. Understanding the impact of local hydrodynamics on the spatial extent and morphology of coral, and their relation to associated organisms such as sponges, is key to understanding the past and future development of the reef. S. J. Hennige was funded by NERC NE/K009028/1 and NE/K009028/2

Stéphane Pesant gave this presentation as invited speaker during the Open Science clinic of the second JPI-Oceans conference in Lisbonne (26th October 2017). It provides an overview of the OpenAIRE-Connect initiative and shares community experience from the Tara Oceans initiative, the H2020 project ATLAS, and the EuroMarine network of marine research. Second JPI-Oceans conference, Lissabon, Portugal; doi:10.5281/ZENODO.1059028