The Troodos ophiolite Cyprus hosts the type locality for Cyprus-type, mafic volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits. Regional soil geochemical data for Troodos are highly variable with the Solea graben, one of three regional graben structures on Cyprus, showing enrichment in Te and Se. Of the three VMS sampled within the Solea graben, Apliki exhibits the most significant enrichment in Se. Samples from the South Apliki Breccia Zone; a zone of hematite-rich breccia containing euhedral pyrite and chalcopyrite, contain up to 4953 and 3956 ppm Se in pyrite and chalcopyrite, respectively. Four paragenetic stages are identified at Apliki and different generations of pyrite are distinguishable using trace-element chemistry analysed via laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Results indicate stage I pyrite formed under reduced conditions at high temperatures >280°C and contains 182 ppm (n = 22 σ = 253) Se. Late stage III pyrite which is euhedral and overprints chalcopyrite and hematite is enriched in Se (averaging 1862 ppm; n = 23 σ = 1394). Sulfide dissolution and hematite formation displaced large amounts of Se as hematite cannot accommodate high concentrations of Se in its crystal structure. The mechanisms proposed to explain the pronounced change in redox are twofold. Fault movement leading to localized seawater ingress coupled with a decreasing magmatic flux that generated locally oxidizing conditions and promoted sulfide dissolution. A Se/S ratio of 9280 indicates a probable magmatic component for late stage III pyrite, which is suggested as a mechanism explaining the transition from oxidizing back to reduced conditions. This study highlights the significance of changes in redox which promote sulfide dissolution, mobilization and enrichment of Se.

In 2009, the European Commission set restricted fishing areas northwest of the British Isles to protect deep-sea vulnerable marine ecosystems and fish stocks. Two protection areas which, historically, have been targeted by fisheries directed at blue ling (Molva dypterygia), were defined. The study aims to assess the effectiveness of restricting fishing activity within the protection areas during the blue ling spawning period (March–May) and to determine whether the existing boundaries are fit for purpose. Estimations of the spatial apportionment of blue ling landings within and outside the protection areas are achieved by combining low-resolution data from fishing vessel logbook entries with higher-resolution vessel monitoring system (VMS) data. High-resolution spatial apportionment of blue ling landings is limited by a lack of high-resolution logbook data, and certain assumptions need to be made on whether vessels are engaging in fishing activity at any individual VMS data point, based on vessel speed and types of fishing gear available. Although current measures appear to have influenced fishing activity in the vicinity of the protection areas, more evidence is needed for a robust evaluation of their effectiveness in protecting blue ling. Recommendations are made for improvements in data collection methods and data availability for research in support of monitoring, assessment and delineation of marine protection boundaries.

This paper aims to investigate the potential interest of using a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) based on GPRS/GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) technology to obtain a better estimation of fishing activity and distribution of a small-scale artisanal fleet, for which the European satellite-based system is not available. Since the early 1980s, the artisanal fishery targeting blackspot seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo), commonly known as “voraz”, has been developing along the Strait of Gibraltar area. Up to now the fishing effort was estimated using the number of sales, a proxy for the number of fishing days. This measure does not, however, capture the “missing effort”, i.e., fishing days resulting in no catch or not enough catch to be sold at public auction. The European satellite-based VMS provides information about the dynamics of different fishing fleets, but is not installed on small vessels (<15 m), such as those used by the artisanal “voracera” fleet targeting blackspot seabream in the Strait of Gibraltar. The Andalucía Regional Government installed its own vessel monitoring system on several artisanal fleets using GPRS/GSM cellular network technology that sends data on vessel positions and speed every three minutes. Data collected from 2009 to 2011 using this system were filtered and analysed to estimate fishing effort, catch rates and the spatial distribution of the blackspot seabream fishery. The estimates obtained seem to provide a good representation of fishery reality. As expected, the missing effort increases as the resource levels decrease. Additionally, expert knowledge of the fishery allowed application of an algorithm for splitting these daily trips into estimated fishing hauls. Afterwards the spatial distribution of catches and Catch per Unit Effort (CPUE) could be obtained linking VMS locations with landings information. This study provides a considerably finer spatial scale view of the fishery than data available in the past.

With slow growth rates, late maturity and a high maximum age of 100 years or more, orange roughy can be classified as a vulnerable deepwater fish species that can only sustain low rates of exploitation. Historical patterns of exploitation associated with this species suggest that it is currently not possible to manage its fisheries in the Northeast Atlantic sustainably, and the total allowable catch for orange roughy has been gradually reduced to zero for European fisheries since 2010. Orange roughy to the west of Ireland and Britain occurs on distinct bathymetric features (seamounts, hills and canyons) as well as on flat ground along the continental slope. Productivity-susceptibility analysis (PSA) was performed to evaluate the biological vulnerability of orange roughy in relation to other deepwater species and the risk that recent and current fisheries pose to its populations in the study area. Time-dependant PSA, based on the spatial overlap between orange roughy distribution and recent and current deepwater fisheries demonstrated a strong reduction in risk over time when fisheries stopped directed targeting practices and continued with mixed deepwater trawl fisheries. Some spatial overlap between the species and current fisheries remains, and while the method can show relative risk reduction, it cannot provide information on whether the risk is low enough to allow the recovery of depleted populations.