First evidence that marine protected areas can work for marine mammals
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Published source details
Gormley A.M., Slooten E., Dawson S., Barker R.J., Rayment W., du Fresne S. & Bräger S. (2012) First evidence that marine protected areas can work for marine mammals. Journal of Applied Ecology, 49, 474-480.
Published source details Gormley A.M., Slooten E., Dawson S., Barker R.J., Rayment W., du Fresne S. & Bräger S. (2012) First evidence that marine protected areas can work for marine mammals. Journal of Applied Ecology, 49, 474-480.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Legally protect habitat for marine and freshwater mammals Action Link |
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Legally protect habitat for marine and freshwater mammals
A before-and-after study in 1986–2005 of a coastal area in the South Pacific Ocean, New Zealand (Gormley et al. 2012) found that after the area became legally protected the survival rate of Hector’s dolphins Cephalorhynchus hectori was higher than before protection. The average annual survival rate of Hector’s dolphins was 5.4% higher after the area became legally protected (0.92) than before (0.86). However, the authors state that the survival rate may still have been too low for population recovery. In 1988, the 1,170 km2 coastal area was designated as a marine mammal sanctuary. Commercial fishing with gill nets was prohibited in the protected area, and amateur fishing with gill nets was restricted to specific times and locations to reduce dolphin entanglements. Hector’s dolphins (462 individuals) were identified from photographs taken during boat transects (number not reported) along the shore in November–February before (1986–1989) and after (1990–2005) the sanctuary was established.
(Summarised by: Anna Berthinussen)
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