Impacts of lost fishing gear on coral reef sessile invertebrates in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

摘要: Abstract The Florida Keys coral reef ecosystem supports multimillion-dollar commercial and recreational fisheries. ecological effects caused by fishing gear that is lost when cut or broken after snagging on the bottom a growing concern to managers scientists. Few data exist, however, assess impacts of benthic organisms habitat structure. In this study, 63 offshore hard-bottom sites were surveyed during 2001 quantify sessile invertebrates. Lost hook-and-line accounted for 87% all debris (N=298 incidences) encountered was responsible 84% 321 documented sponges cnidarians, predominantly consisting tissue abrasion causing partial individual colony mortality. Branching gorgonians (Octocorallia) most frequently affected (56%), followed milleporid hydrocorals (19%) (13%). Factors affecting include invertebrate density, density gear, length. While ubiquitous in Keys, less than 0.2% available hydrocorals, stony corals, habitats studied are adversely terms abrasions