Patterns of species and functional diversity around a coastal marine reserve: a fisheries perspective

Published source details Stelzenmüller V., Maynou F. & Martin P. (2009) Patterns of species and functional diversity around a coastal marine reserve: a fisheries perspective. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 19, 554-565.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Cease or prohibit all types of fishing in a marine protected area Action Link

Cease or prohibit all types of fishing in a marine protected area

A site comparison study in 2003–2005 of an area of rocky seabed in the north-western Mediterranean Sea, off Spain (Stelzenmuller et al. 2009) found that fish (functional) diversity and catch rates in local traditional fisheries were greatest closer to a marine reserve closed to all fishing for 22 years, and decreased with increasing distance from the reserve. Functional diversity (the roles played by different species in the ecosystem) and fisher catch rates increased with decreasing distance from the reserve (data reported as statistical model results). However, these were also strongly affected by the presence of a seagrass bed along the western border of the reserve buffer zone. Species diversity was also highest in the waters surrounding the area protected from fishing compared to further away and changed with depth (data reported graphically). In addition, the value of catches were highest within the buffer zone of the reserve. Data were collected between March and December from 2003–2005 in two areas: the buffer zone (418 ha, only artisanal fishing allowed) surrounding the Medes Islands marine reserve (93 ha, designated in 1983, all fishing banned inside the reserve in 1991), and in the adjacent unprotected fished area up to 9 km away from the buffer zone. A total of 44 trammel net fishing operations were sampled and 1,685 fish were counted, identified and fish length recorded.

(Summarised by: Rosslyn McIntyre)