A meta-analysis reveals edge effects within marine protected areas

Ohayon, Sarah; Granot, Itai; Belmaker, Jonathan

doi:10.1038/s41559-021-01502-3

Cited by 34 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 42 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The MPAs included in this study were proposed with an emphasis on fishery conservation objectives, using economic criteria related to the sustainable use of fisheries resources to evaluate MPA management and attending to the fishermen's interests to gain their acceptance. Although significant, the increase of biomass of target species and catches in the studied MPAs outside their boundaries is low (Tabarca and Cabo de Palos; Vandeperre et al 2011) or undocumented (e.g., San Antonio, Serra Gelada, Cabo Tin ˜oso), with an explicit ''edge effect'' (Ohayon et al 2021) that undermines the productive capacities of MPAs to regenerate the exploited fishery resources due to their small size. Furthermore, the lack of actual positive and sustained impact on the catches of the affected fishermen would explain the interest in establishing objectives to improve those catches and would be the cause of the fishermen's low satisfaction with the managers when resolving conflicts because these improvements in catches never materialized.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Sharing goals by timely communication improves fishermen's satisfaction with marine protected areas: A case study in the Mediterranean

Muñoz

Miles

Bayle-Sempere

2022

Ambio

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are considered as a valid tool for mitigating the impact of fishing on marine ecosystems. Their success depends upon their acceptance by implicated stakeholders and on the integration of the stakeholder groups into their management. This integration is especially important with regard to fishermen, whose interests are the most directly affected by MPAs. The relational coordination method posits that effective communication and supportive relationships among stakeholders result in positive stakeholder behaviors and a more effective management of the system. Applying its principles, we designed a survey to evaluate the satisfaction of fishermen associated with five MPAs in the Spanish Mediterranean and determine what mechanisms affect fishermen’s acceptance of MPAs. Our results demonstrate that effective communication is particularly important for good supportive relationships and satisfaction among fishermen and other stakeholder groups, as well as satisfaction with the MPA. Sharing objectives with fishermen through timely communication is the primary mechanism to improve fishermen's satisfaction and ameliorate perceptions towards MPA. To address this issue, we recommend more substantial integration of fishermen in the co-management of MPAs.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Sharing goals by timely communication improves fishermen's satisfaction with marine protected areas: A case study in the Mediterranean

Muñoz

Miles

Bayle-Sempere

2022

Ambio

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The socioeconomic principles were aimed at maximizing benefits while minimizing conflicts and costs to stakeholders (e.g., Fernandes et al, 2009;Gaines et al, 2010;Gleason et al, 2010;Ban et al, 2011;Green et al, 2014). The shape-area principles are commonly used to reduce threats' potential (i.e., edge effects) in the zoning design (Roberts et al, 2001;Roberts et al, 2003;Ohayon et al, 2021). These principles were followed so that the MPA could achieve four main goals that were initially co-defined and validated by the participants of the participatory process: 1) Protection of marine biodiversity; 2) Promotion of local and small-scale sustainable fisheries; 3) Promotion of sustainable tourism; 4) Promotion of ocean literacy.…”

Section: Zoning Principlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Finally, the shape-area principles were intended to consider the different protection levels, their areas, and corresponding shape while trying to minimize the potential threats inside the most protected areas ('edge effect') (Roberts et al, 2003;Fernandes et al, 2009;Ohayon et al, 2021). These were defined to: f. maximize compactness and reduce the border exposure/ edge effect;…”

Section: Shape-area Principlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A recognized good practice is to surround the no-take area with a highly protected area (i.e., some extraction -but only selective and low-impact uses are allowed) as a buffer to edge effects, which can then be surrounded by less protected/ restrictive areas. Studies suggest that no-take areas should have at least 10km 2 in size and be surrounded by a buffer area of 1km wide at minimum (Roberts et al, 2001;Gaines et al, 2010;Ohayon et al, 2021). A recent meta-analysis suggests a circular design as the shape that most reduces the edge effects in no-take areas (Ohayon et al, 2021).…”

Section: Shape-area Principlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies suggest that no-take areas should have at least 10km 2 in size and be surrounded by a buffer area of 1km wide at minimum (Roberts et al, 2001;Gaines et al, 2010;Ohayon et al, 2021). A recent meta-analysis suggests a circular design as the shape that most reduces the edge effects in no-take areas (Ohayon et al, 2021). However, such a shape is hard to perceive and distinguish in navigation charts and to be identified by in situ marker buoys.…”

Section: Shape-area Principlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Co-design of a marine protected area zoning and the lessons learned from it

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are a tool to safeguard marine natural systems, yet their effectiveness depends on how well they are integrated into the existing socioeconomic context. Stakeholder engagement in MPA design can contribute to increasing integration. This study focuses on the co-design of an MPA between researchers, public administration, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations. The proposed MPA is in Portugal and includes an area that is a hotspot for biodiversity and economic activities. This is the first MPA proposal in mainland Portugal co-designed using a participatory approach. This study highlights the steps of the zoning process and synthesizes the eight main lessons learned, useful for other cases, particularly for relatively small coastal MPAs with multiple socioeconomic activities. Three zoning proposals were developed and discussed within the participatory process. The proposals considered the best scientific and local knowledge available and were defined using ecological, socioeconomic, and shape-area guiding principles. In an iterative manner and following a participatory approach, compromises with stakeholders were achieved, and a final proposal, scientifically sound and socially accepted by most stakeholders, was delivered to the government. The final zoning plan will achieve ambitious conservation goals, including the largest fully protected area to be declared in mainland Portugal, while minimizing the impacts on the existing economic activities and promoting its sustainability. This process resulted in valuable lessons that may be applied elsewhere and guide future MPA implementation or rezoning of existing ones. These transdisciplinary and participatory processes can be time and resource-consuming but are vital for ensuring MPA effectiveness.

show abstract

Horizontal and vertical movements of the critically endangered Rostroraja alba in a coastal marine protected area

Kraft,

Winkler,

Abecasis

2024

Aquatic Conservation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Elasmobranchs are slow‐growing marine predators whose populations have declined due to their susceptibility to overfishing, especially affecting species of large size. Rostroraja alba is a large skate that is currently classified as critically endangered. To address the effects of overfishing and promote the recovery of marine species and habitats, marine protected areas (MPAs) are a commonly implemented management strategy. A critical aspect of their success is using information on species' movement patterns; however, this is frequently not assessed for elasmobranchs. In this study, acoustic telemetry was used to monitor 30 R. alba in the Professor Luís Saldanha Marine Park (Portugal) to assess their long‐term movements in the context of a coastal MPA and to evaluate the contribution of this kind of spatial management to the conservation of this species. Immature individuals were more frequently captured than adults, which postulates this area as a potential nursery. The average residency was moderate and relatively consistent throughout the year, as was area use. No marked size or sex‐based differences in movement were noted. Individuals were more active and occurred in shallower waters at night and twilight, and occasional quick vertical movements into the water column, isolated or in sequence, were also noted. In general, the LSMP seems to offer stable protection to immature R. alba, with no strong seasonal variation. These results provide relevant input for adaptive management measures of this and other similar MPAs and highlight the contribution of these efforts to the protection of nursery areas.

show abstract

A meta-analysis reveals edge effects within marine protected areas

Cited by 34 publications

References 42 publications

Sharing goals by timely communication improves fishermen's satisfaction with marine protected areas: A case study in the Mediterranean

Sharing goals by timely communication improves fishermen's satisfaction with marine protected areas: A case study in the Mediterranean

Co-design of a marine protected area zoning and the lessons learned from it

Horizontal and vertical movements of the critically endangered Rostroraja alba in a coastal marine protected area

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About