Publications by authors named "Laurence Fauconnet"
Abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), represents a significant percentage of the global plastic pollution, currently considered one of the major sources from sea-based activities. However, there is still limited understanding of the quantities of ALDFG present on the seafloor and their impacts. In this study, data on the presence of ALDFG was obtained from a large archive of seafloor video footage (351 dives) collected by different imaging platforms in the Azores region over 15 years (2006-2020).
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- Mid-ocean ridges, particularly the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, are crucial for marine ecosystems as they provide nutrients to organisms like cold-water corals and deep-sea sponges.
- A newly discovered octocoral garden, composed of large red and white colonies at depths of 545-595 m in the Azores, is significant due to its density and near-natural condition, meeting criteria for a Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem.
- The study highlights the relationship between the octocoral structure and surrounding currents, emphasizing the need for further exploration of mid-ocean ridges' ecosystems and their role in global deep-sea biodiversity.
The archipelago of the Azores (mid-north Atlantic Ocean) is an outermost region of the European Union (EU) in which small-scale fisheries are a strong component of the local economy. Bottom longlining and handlining are the most important Azorean fisheries in landing values, fishing vessels and fishers. Despite their high selectivity and low discards, these fisheries can be highly impacted by the implementation of the Landing Obligation (LO).
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