Marine protected areas (MPAs) have been demonstrated to positively affect various aspects of their ecosystems and communities. In the present study, the effectiveness of varying protection levels on the coastal fish populations within a multiple-use marine park in Greece was assessed through community-level metrics using a non-destructive underwater recording method (underwater drone/mini remotely operated vehicle). Two factors were examined, i.e. protection level (fully, partially and least protected area) and time period (early and late summer: beginning and towards the end of the fishing and touristic season). Our study demonstrated some first results that protection benefited both the commercial species and the entire fish community as a whole, in terms of diversity, abundance and richness, while non-commercial species did not differ among the studied protection levels. This finding, along with the fact that the prevailing conditions (water temperature, depth, habitat type) were similar in all three studied areas, that corresponded to different protection levels, and in both sampling periods, indicated that the observed results may be attributed to the varying protection levels. The studied fish communities did not seem to be affected by the more intense fishing and touristic period over the summer. In conclusion, protection from fishing seems to positively affect the studied coastal fish community as a whole and particularly the commercially important species that find a refuge within core areas of the Alonissos marine park.

Fish assemblages inhabiting a complex of south Tyrrhenian seamounts and banks were characterized using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). Fish distribution was assessed through surveying 15 ROV transects. Video segments of each transect were split into two bathymetric ranges, above and below 200 m depth. In total 28 fish taxa belonging to 22 families were recorded. The number of species observed at the Marettimo Banks and the Aceste Seamount was higher compared with the Tiberio and Scuso Seamounts. The number of species recorded in the shallow part (<200 m depth) of the Marettimo Banks and the Aceste Seamount was higher than in the deeper zone (>200 m). Assemblages were numerically dominated by Anthias anthias, Callanthias ruber and Helicolenus dactylopterus. The occurrence of some elasmobranchs of conservation concern, such as Squatina aculeata, Hexanchus griseus, Squalus blainville and Galeus melastomus, was noteworthy. Differences in fish assemblage composition were observed between the Aceste Seamount and the other sites and especially between the two bathymetric ranges. The fish distribution pattern showed significant relationships with bottom slope and some substrate types. A large occurrence of lost fishing gear characterized the sites closest to the coast (the Marettimo Banks and the Scuso Seamount), providing, along with scanty observations of commercially important fishes, evidence of heavy fishing activities. The adoption of conservation and management actions in the investigated seamounts and banks, such as their inclusion in the Natura 2000 network, would be very helpful to protect some threatened elasmobranchs and restore valuable deep-sea habitats.

Lacydonia Marion & Bobretsky, 1875 is the sole genus in the family Lacydoniidae Bergström, 1914. We herein describe the new species of Lacydonia shohoensis sp. nov. from 2042-m deep bottoms at Shoho Seamount of the Nishi-Shichito Ridge, the Northwest Pacific Ocean. It is most similar to L. anapaulae Rizzo et al., 2016 in having a depression on the median anterior region and lacking lateral lobes on the posterior margin of prostomium whereas it is distinguished by possessing pygidium dorsally pigmented with three reddish spots and non-pigmented pygidial lateral cirri equally elongated.

Coralligenous bioconstructions are among the most important Mediterranean habitats for biodiversity maintenance. However some characteristic and sensitive organisms, such as the fan corals, are considered endangered in the international community; indeed, they may be severely damaged by fishing activities causing mechanical damage and increasing sedimentation rate. ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) investigations were carried out in order to characterize different morphological types of coralligenous habitat (rim, bank and shoal) located in the southern Bay of Naples (Italy), and to assess the presence of lost fishing gears and their impact on these benthic communities. A rapid classification of different fishing pressures and impacts was obtained through the development of new, representative and synthetic categories. Image analysis revealed the presence of rich and diversified communities, characterized by several fan coral colonies. However, fishing activity dramatically affects these coralligenous habitats, entangling and covering benthic assemblages and leading to necrosis and to parasitic epibionts growth especially on branched organisms. Monitoring programmes may provide a detailed assessment of coralligenous habitats characterization, distribution and health status. An accurate evaluation of fishing pressure and impact may be considered a useful tool to improve sustainable management of these valuable habitats.

This study reports the composition and distribution of demersal megafauna from various north-western Mediterranean submarine areas such as canyons, seamounts and landslides between 60–800 m depth, based on remotely operated vehicle (ROV) observations. From a total of 30 h of video, 4534 faunistic observations were made and analysed in relationship to environmental factors (i.e. topography, substrate type and depth). In addition, anthropogenic impact was quantified by grouping observations in four categories: fishing nets, longlines, trawl marks and other litter. The different targeted environments showed similarities in faunal composition according to substrate, depth and topography. Our results also indicated the presence of anthropogenic impact in all the sampled areas in which litter and trawl marks were the most observed artefacts.

Carnivorous sponges (Porifera: Cladorhizidae) are a particularly interesting group of species typically occurring in deep-sea habitats. In this study a new species, Chondrocladia (Chondrocladia) robertballardi sp. nov., is described from specimens collected on two large north-east Atlantic seamounts – the Gorringe and Galicia Banks – located off the Iberian Peninsula. The holotype, collected on the Gorringe Bank by ROV, is a large, dichotomously branched and stalked sponge with translucent spheres in the middle of secondary axes and a rhizoid basal fixation system. Direct observations on the habit of the new species were made from the ROV. The paratypes, collected on the Galicia Bank by dredge and trawling, are fragments of different sizes. The skeleton is composed of a single class of styles and isochelae. All specimens were collected at similar depths (1400–1738 m) within the upper bathyal, and at the same longitude but separated by 670 km. A synthesis of the geographic as well as bathymetric distribution of this genus is presented. The species is compared with all known species of this genus worldwide.

Modern in situ survey technologies such as crewed submersibles, remotely-operated vehicles (ROVs), towed camera arrays, and visual/video plankton recorders (VPRs) were used to characterize the dominant anthomedusan species off the eastern seaboard of Japan. Notes on the taxonomy, distribution, behaviour and interspecies interactions are presented for the four observed species: Euphysa japonica, E. flammea, Calycopsis nematophora and Pandea rubra. A new generic definition for the genus Calycopsis is proposed. The possibility of run-on, cascading detrimental effects of oceanic acidification on midwater ecosystems was identified from observations made during the present study.