Indirect benefits of marine protected areas for juvenile abalone

Published source details Rogers-Bennett L. & Pearse J.S. (2001) Indirect benefits of marine protected areas for juvenile abalone. Conservation Biology, 15, 642-647.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Designate a Marine Protected Area and prohibit the harvesting of sea urchins Action Link

Designate a Marine Protected Area and prohibit the harvesting of sea urchins

A replicated, site comparison study in 1996–1997 of six rocky seabed sites off the coast of central and northern California, North Pacific Ocean, USA (Rogers‐Bennett & Pearse 2001) found that marine protected areas prohibiting the commercial harvest of red sea urchins Strongylocentrotus franciscanus had higher abundances of juvenile red abalone Haliotis rufescens and juvenile flat abalone Haliotis walallensis compared to areas where commercial harvesting occurred. Abundances of both species were higher in protected areas (red abalone: 8–139/plot; flat abalone: 0–18/plot) compared to harvested areas (red abalone: 0–39/plot; flat abalone: 0–9). In addition, juvenile abalone abundance was significantly positively related to sea urchin abundance, and inside protected areas 33% of juvenile abalone were found protected under sea urchin spine canopies. In October 1996 and August 1997, three marine protected areas (year of designation unspecified) prohibiting the commercial harvest of red sea urchins and three areas where urchin harvest occurred were surveyed. Juvenile red and flat abalone were counted in 24 x 30 m plots/site (5–8 m depth).

(Summarised by: Anaëlle Lemasson)