Mapping of vulnerable marine species and habitats in Brønnøyfjorden, Flesafjorden, Harøyfjorden, Midfjorden, Moldefjorden and Sklinna - Norway

On behalf of SalMar Farming AS, Aqua Kompetanse AS has conducted a survey of vulnerable species and habitats in shallow waters (0–50 m) and deep waters (>50 m). The purpose of the survey is to identify the presence and observed density of vulnerable species that may form habitats listed on the Norwegian Red List for Ecosystems and Habitat Types (Artsdatabanken, 2018), on OSPAR’s list of threatened and/or declining habitats (OSPAR 2008-06, revised in 2021), and among the proposed management-relevant habitat types for fisheries and aquaculture (Institute of Marine Research Report, 2024-16). At depths greater than 50 meters, the focus is mainly on corals, sponges, and sea pens. However, other red-listed and/or vulnerable species that live in close interaction with the three-dimensional habitats formed by the aforementioned groups will also be described when relevant. At depths shallower than 50 meters, the survey includes kelp forests, soft-bottom shoreline areas, coarse substrate bottoms, marine seagrass beds, exposed blue mussel beds, oysters, scallop populations, corals, sponges, sea pens, and any other red-listed shallow-water species. The investigation is based on the Institute of Marine Research’s proposed methodology for surveying vulnerable species and habitats in deep water (>50 meters depth) in connection with applications for marine aquaculture (Kutti and Husa 2021).