A systematic conservation plan identifying critical areas for improved chondrichthyan protection in South Africa

Faure-Beaulieu, Nina; Lombard, Amanda T.; Olbers, Jennifer; Goodall, Victoria; Silva, Charlene da; Daly, Ryan; Jordaan, Gareth L.; Kerwath, Sven E.; Kock, Alison A.; Mann, B.Q.; Murray, Taryn S.; Albano, Patricia S.; Cliff, Geremy; Santos, N.; Gennari, Enrico; Hammerschlag, Neil; Merwe, Aletta E. Bester‐van der; Watson, Ralph; Andreotti, Sara; Bernard, Anthony; Cowley, Paul D.; Vos, Lauren De; Drobniewska, Natalia; Elston, Chantel; Fallows, Chris; Rogers, Toby D.; Smith, Grant R.; Staden, Michaela van; Villiers, Pierre de; Paulet, Timothy G; Harris, Jean M.

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2023.110163

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 50 publications

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“…However, this can be achieved through the use of systematic conservation planning approaches (Margules & Pressey, 2000;Possingham et al, 2006) and decision-support tools (e.g., Giakoumi et al, 2011;Giménez et al, 2020). Studies that utilize typical spatial prioritization tools, such as Marxan and Zonation (Ball et al, 2009;Moilanen et al, 2005), tend to focus on management areas that would be permanent and static (Faure-Beaulieu et al, 2023;Jalkanen et al, 2020;Metcalfe et al, 2015). Integrating strategically placed fishing closures and dynamic ocean management could provide an effective approach to address multiple objectives, including conservation and benefits for fisheries, all while adapting closures to spatiotemporal variations in the environment (Dunn et al, 2016;Lewison et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamic marine spatial planning for conservation and fisheries benefits

Vigo,

Hermoso,

Navarro

et al. 2024

Fish and Fisheries

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The increasing global demand for marine resources raises concerns about sustainable resource management and biodiversity conservation. Spatial closures, such as marine protected areas, can be valuable tools for maintaining and restoring exploited populations. When these spatial closures adopt a dynamic nature being adapted to the changing environment, they can effectively account for factors such as shifting species distributions, which enhances their potential to achieve ecological and socio‐economic objectives. Here, we adapted a decision‐support tool (the software Marxan), typically used for selecting static and permanent areas, to produce management recommendations that integrate permanent and temporal closures to fisheries. Our aim was to compare the outputs of a static network of permanent no‐take reserves with four other dynamic scenarios, including permanent and temporal closures that account for seasonal variations in the populations of species. All scenarios prioritized sites for the conservation of one of the most valuable European fishing stocks, the Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus). Additionally, we considered 12 other commercially exploited species captured by the Norway lobster fishery. The assessed outputs included retained biomass, area extent, closure type (permanent and seasonal) and opportunity costs within each scenario. We observed that all dynamic scenarios required fewer management areas permanently closed than the static scenario. This resulted in a lower opportunity cost for fisheries but also a higher capacity for biodiversity conservation. Therefore, complementing permanent with temporal closures could enhance biodiversity conservation and fisheries management. The novel dynamic planning method presented here could be applicable to other species, ecosystems and socio‐economic contexts.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamic marine spatial planning for conservation and fisheries benefits

Vigo,

Hermoso,

Navarro

et al. 2024

Fish and Fisheries

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Diamond Gymnura natalensis and duckbill Aetomylaeus bovinus rays undertake nationwide coastal migrations

Elston,

Murray,

Rogers

et al. 2024

Journal of Fish Biology

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Migration is a critical aspect of ocean ecosystems, and understanding this phenomenon answers ecological and management questions. Given the difficulty in tracking ocean animals across large distances, the extent to which different ray species perform long‐distance movements, such as migrations, remains unknown. This study used passive acoustic telemetry to track the movements of endemic diamond Gymnura natalensis and critically endangered duckbill Aetomylaeus bovinus rays along the South African coastline using a collaborative nationwide network of coastal acoustic receivers for up to 7 years. Duckbill rays were detected significantly more frequently than diamond rays, but both species moved between the south and east coasts of South Africa (traveling up to 1167 km). Tagged individuals were detected significantly more often in their tagging locations during summer months but traveled significantly further distances during winter months. Furthermore, movement models fitted to individual duckbill rays' annual net‐squared displacement identified most individual annual movements as migratory. This evidence suggests that both diamond and duckbill rays make eastward winter migrations and return to specific areas along the coastline during the summer months. The exceptions to this were diamond rays tagged on the east coast that were not found to migrate seasonally, which supports previous research that there is intraspecific variability in migrations for ray species. These findings have implications for understanding ray migration not only on a global scale but also locally for spatial management interventions and population delineation.

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A systematic conservation plan identifying critical areas for improved chondrichthyan protection in South Africa

Cited by 2 publications

References 50 publications

Dynamic marine spatial planning for conservation and fisheries benefits

Dynamic marine spatial planning for conservation and fisheries benefits

Diamond Gymnura natalensis and duckbill Aetomylaeus bovinus rays undertake nationwide coastal migrations

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