The potential threat of fisheries on seabed carbon is a topic of growing concern, yet existing literature presents inconsistencies leaving experts divided on the topic. We conducted a global meta‐analysis to synthesize the current knowledge and quantify how demersal fishing impacts various biogeochemical properties. Direct impact studies revealed overall reductions in chlorophyll‐a (Chl‐a, 17%), phaeopigments (24%), and proteins (32%). Effects on these reactive compounds were more pronounced on surface sediment (0–2 cm), where the impact on total organic carbon (TOC) also became significant, demonstrating the effect of gear penetration, and highlighting that sampling strategies combining sediment layers can mask observed effects. Current velocity and primary productivity significantly influenced the direction and magnitude of fishing impacts. Trawling‐induced subsurface reductions of TOC in low‐energy habitats may affect carbon sequestration due to the preferential removal of semi‐reactive carbon. Intriguingly, fishing intensity gradient studies showed an average increase in TOC in chronically fished areas, possibly reflecting fishing preferences for meso‐eutrophic grounds. We estimate a ~300‐day recovery period post‐fishing for Chl‐a, though values for other parameters are less certain. Limited data on seasonality, gear types, and an under‐representation of studies in tropical and deep‐sea areas pose challenges to quantifying global scale geochemical impacts of demersal fisheries. Knowledge gaps persist in understanding the fate of disturbed organic matter including its mineralization, transport, and sequestration. Nonetheless, our insights and estimates provide foundational knowledge that can contribute to science‐based approaches for spatial fisheries management while preserving natural carbon dynamics on the seabed.

中文翻译：

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底层捕捞对有机碳和相关生物地球化学影响的全球荟萃分析


渔业对海底碳的潜在威胁是一个日益受到关注的话题，但现有文献的不一致之处使专家们对该主题存在分歧。我们进行了一项全球荟萃分析，以综合当前的知识并量化底层捕捞如何影响各种生物地球化学特性。直接影响研究显示叶绿素-a (Chl-a，17%)、色素 (24%) 和蛋白质 (32%) 总体减少。这些反应性化合物对表层沉积物（0-2 厘米）的影响更为明显，对总有机碳 (TOC) 的影响也变得显着，这证明了齿轮穿透的影响，并强调结合沉积物层的采样策略可以掩盖观察到的情况影响。海流速度和初级生产力显着影响捕捞影响的方向和程度。由于半反应性碳的优先去除，拖网导致的低能量栖息地地下 TOC 减少可能会影响碳封存。有趣的是，捕捞强度梯度研究表明，长期捕捞区域的 TOC 平均增加，可能反映了对中富营养化地区的捕捞偏好。我们估计叶绿素 a 捕捞后约 300 天的恢复期，但其他参数的值不太确定。关于季节性、渔具类型的数据有限，以及热带和深海地区研究的代表性不足，对量化底层渔业的全球范围地球化学影响提出了挑战。在了解受干扰的有机物的命运（包括其矿化、运输和封存）方面仍然存在知识差距。 尽管如此，我们的见解和估计提供了基础知识，有助于制定基于科学的空间渔业管理方法，同时保留海底的自然碳动态。