Impact of fishing gears and fishing intensities on maerl beds: An experimental approach

Abstract

• Maerl beds are very diverse yet very vulnerable habitats, especially to dredging. • Bivalve dredging leads to profound maerl alteration and to diversity loss. • The fishing pressure and the gear specificities cause long-term impacts (>1 year). • At low fishing pressure, the type of gear is conditioning the level of destruction. • Fishing pressures and gears specificities must be considered in management policies.