Preface The expedition ARK XIX/3 with the German icebreaking RV ...

scour or demersal trawling. The group was of ecological importance in terms of
providing a habitat for other invertebrates (e.g. amphipods, crabs, crinoids) as well
adding structural complexity to the seabed as ‘essential fish habitat’ for fish such as
Lepidion which associated with the large gorgonians and antipatharians. We will
investigate whether the "Victor 6000" video shows statistically more fish near large
Alcyonacea than on surrounding low-relief sediment. We are fortunate to have been
able to see and collect specimens from areas that have not yet been impacted by
trawling activity. Most marine studies are carried out in areas that are heavily modified
by fishing due to a lack of pristine reference sites. Perhaps we are just in time, given
the extent of trawling damage to the "Twin mounds" region where the coral has been
reduced to rubble and no large, erect epifauna remain.
A. 4.8.3 Scientific Fisheries Echosounder Survey
Guinan, J., Grehan, A.
During the second half of cruise ARK XIX/3a, a fisheries survey was carried out
covering mound locations in the Porcupine Seabight and west of the Porcupine Bank
(Fig. A4.8.3-1) using a Simrad EK60 Scientific Echosounder.
Fig. A4.8.3-1: Fisheries survey transect over the four study locations (indicated by the blue
clusters) on the western Porcupine Bank.
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