Study

Context-dependent effects of marine protected areas on predatory interactions

  • Published source details Clemente S., Hernández J. & Brito A. (2011) Context-dependent effects of marine protected areas on predatory interactions. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 437, 119-133.

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 replicated, site-comparison study in 2005 of shallow rocky reefs in three marine protected areas established for 9–15 years in the Atlantic Ocean around the Canary Islands, Spain (Clemente et al. 2011) found that banning all types of fishing resulted in a different fish assemblage and increased abundance of grey triggerfish Balistes capriscus and barred hogfish Bodianus scrofa compared to unprotected (fished) reference areas, but abundance of ocean triggerfish Canthidermis sufflamen and ornate wrasse Thalassamo parvo was similar. Across all three islands, the fish assemblage was different in unfished and fished areas. Average abundance of grey triggerfish and barred hogfish was higher in the unfished areas (triggerfish: 0.3–0.6; hogfish: 0.1–0.4 fish/100 m2) than the fished areas (triggerfish: 0.0–0.2; hogfish: 0.0 fish/100 m2). Similar abundance in unfished and fished areas was recorded for ocean triggerfish (0.0–0.2 vs 0.1 fish/100m2) and ornate wrasse >12 cm (22.3–35.0 vs 21.7–31.2 fish/100m2). Also reported, but not statistically tested, was abundance of zebra seabream Diplodus cervinus >30 cm (unfished: 0.7-1.3; fished: 0.2–0.6 fish/100m2) and white seabream Diplodus sargus >30 cm (unfished: 0.2–0.7; fished: 0.1–1.0 fish/100m2). Fish surveys were done in April-November 2005 at four sites in each of three marine protected areas and three nearby unprotected fished areas. Protected areas were designated 9–15 years prior, prohibited all fishing. At each site, divers recorded the number and length of all fish for 5 minutes within a 100 m2 circle at six replicate locations.

    (Summarised by: Leo Clarke)

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