The current state of the benthic communities in the area of the Cape Svyatoy settlement of the Iceland scallop in the Barents Sea

The aim. Assessment of the current state of the zoobenthos in the southern part of the Cape Svyatoy settlement of the Iceland scallop in five years after the finish of its commercial exploitation. Material and methods used. Analyzed material was sampled from the R/V «Professor Boyko» during a resource survey of the Icelandic scallop in the Barents Sea in September 2023. A complete quantitative taxonomic analysis of the Sigsbee trawl bycatches of bottom invertebrates was carried out at 85 stations within twelve-mile zone of the Cape Svyatoy settlement of the Icelandic scallop. Four indices were used for assessment of the macrobenthos ecological quality: Clark’s W -statistic, the predominant life strategy index D E , AMBI and M-AMBI indices. The results. The main characteristics of macrozoobenthos in the area of the Cape Svyatoy settlement of the Iceland scallop are described (taxonomic composition, distribution of species richness, diversity, total abundance and biomass, list of the most abundant species, characteristics and distribution of the main bottom communities). The level of average benthic biomass within the study area is estimated as lower than expected given the long preceding warm period. Based on comparison of 2016 and 2023 benthic data, the positive dynamics of the trophic structure of benthos are noted. According to results of bio-testing the ecological state of benthos, in the main part of the study area, is assessed as good and undisturbed, with the exception of area to southeast of Cape Svyatoy, where the lower values of ecological status, abundance and species diversity of benthos are caused by natural environmental conditions. Practical significance : The results of the study provides insight into the bottom communities’ recovery after intensive fishing pressure.