Study

Movement patterns of four coral reef fish species in a fragmented habitat in New Caledonia: implications for the design of marine protected area networks

  • Published source details Chateau O. & Wantiez L. (2009) Movement patterns of four coral reef fish species in a fragmented habitat in New Caledonia: implications for the design of marine protected area networks. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66, 50-55.

Actions

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
Marine Fish Conservation
  1. Cease or prohibit all types of fishing in a marine protected area

    A site comparison study in 2005–2007 of one no-take coral reef marine reserve, closed to fishing for 15 years, and two unprotected (fished) reefs in the Pacific Ocean off New Caledonia, France (Chateau & Wantiez 2009) reported that the tracked movements of four of four commercially important reef fish species indicated that most did not move from the unfished reef to the fished reefs and thus were largely protected from fishing, however, some fish did make large-scale movements outside of the reserve reef. Data were not tested for statistical significance. Of 45 fish tracked, a total of 36 (80%) did not move between the three reef sites but nine fish (20%), including at least one individual from each of the four species, moved distances of 510–6,000 m outside the reserve reef. The South Lagoon Marine Park was created in 1990 and has one temporary and nine permanent no-take marine reserves where all fishing is prohibited. From July 2005 to January 2007, movement data for 45 fish of four major commercial reef species (19 individuals of two Serranidae spp. and 26 individuals of two Scaridae spp.) fitted with transmitters were collected by 23 hydrophones deployed at 4–13 m depth around one reserve and two fished reefs. After being fitted with transmitters, 35 fish were released at their original site of capture (28 in the reserve and 7 in a fished reef) and ten fish that were caught in a fished reef were released inside the reserve. The number of days each fish was detected for was reported only for some individuals.

    (Summarised by: Natasha Taylor)

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