@article{fdi:010077432,
  title = {{T}owards coherent {GES} assessments at sub-regional level : signs of fisheries expansion processes in the {B}ay of {B}iscay using an {OSPAR} food web indicator, the mean trophic level},
  author = {{A}rroyo, {N}. {L}. and {S}afi, {G}. and {V}ouriot, {P}. and {L}opez-{L}opez, {L}. and {N}iquil, {N}. and {L}e {L}oc'h, {F}ran{\c{c}}ois and {H}attab, {T}. and {P}reciado, {I}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{U}sing the {B}ay of {B}iscay ({B}o{B}) as a case study, we conducted a transnational assessment of the mean trophic level ({MTL}, {O}spar {FW}4) indicator at sub-regional level, over the last three decades. {O}ur results confirm the apparent recovery of {B}o{B}'s bentho-demersal system, as shown by trends in the {MTL} indicator based on survey data. {H}owever, they also point at a concomitant "fishing through" process where the apparent stability revealed by the {MTL} indicator based on landed catch data may be masking the expansion of demersal fisheries to deeper waters, and an over-exploitation of resources (particularly abundant pelagic species). {M}oreover, they show how the combined examination of independent surveys and fishery landings allows the identification of ecological trends in ecosystem studies. {I}n addition, our results confirm that analysing {MTL} at various threshold levels helps discerning the causality of trends in this indicator, especially if analyses for pelagic and demersal species are run independently. {F}urther studies, at smaller (i.e. local) spatial scales, need to be conducted to ascertain our results and suggest appropriate management strategies aimed at regulating fisheries expansions in the area.},
  keywords = {{B}ay of {B}iscay ; ecology ; environmental status ; fisheries expansion ; fishing through ; food webs ; mean trophic level ; {MSFD} ; {OSPAR} indicators ; {ATLANTIQUE} ; {BISCAYE} {BAIE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{ICES} {J}ournal of {M}arine {S}cience},
  volume = {76},
  numero = {6},
  pages = {1543--1553},
  ISSN = {1054-3139},
  year = {2019},
  DOI = {10.1093/icesjms/fsz023},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010077432},
}