Drawing lines at the sand: Evidence for functional vs. visual reef boundaries in temperate Marine Protected Areas

Sheehan, Emma V.; Cousens, Sophie L.; Nancollas, Sarah J.; Stauss, C.; Royle, J. Andrew; Attrill, Martin J.

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.09.004

Cited by 38 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…In this study, we found that despite increases in the average abundance of Ross coral across each fishing treatment since the Lyme Bay SAC was implemented, no significant effect of time on abundance was found. This differs to the findings of the short‐term studies, that were conducted 3 years following the establishment of the MPA (Sheehan, Cousens, et al., ; Sheehan, Stevens, et al., ), which observed significant increases in abundance over time. Hinz et al.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…Sheehan, Cousens, et al. () and Sheehan, Stevens, et al. () reported much higher abundances of king scallops in the areas of seabed they studied within Lyme Bay, which could suggest that the areas (type) of seabed surveyed in this study may have been less suitable for king scallops, or these differences may relate to temporal and spatial variation in recruitment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 56%

“…Sheehan, Cousens, et al. () found an increase in the abundance of dead men's fingers within the MPA but not outside the MPA, 3 years after closures were implemented. In this study, dead men's fingers increased across all fishing treatments and remained most abundant in the CNF area.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Marine protected areas are of particular value as conservation tools when they are used to limit (or remove) activities that directly threaten particular seabed habitats or sessile species associated with those habitats (Hinz, Tarrant, Ridgeway, Kaiser, & Hiddink, ; Sheehan, Cousens, et al., ; Sheehan, Stevens, Gall, Cousens, & Attrill, ). The implementation and design of effective MPAs requires a multi‐disciplinary approach, together with an understanding of the ecological and life‐history traits of the protected species, physical environment and natural disturbance regime (Claudet et al., ; Sciberras et al., ; Stewart et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Recovery linked to life history of sessile epifauna following exclusion of towed mobile fishing gear

Kaiser

Hormbrey

Booth

et al. 2018

Journal of Applied Ecology

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The use of reserves as conservation tools is widespread. However, evaluating the effectiveness of reserve implementation for long‐lived species has been problematic as it requires sampling programmes over long timescales that are appropriate to species' longevity and recovery rates. In the sea, towed bottom fishing gears alter the biodiversity and ecosystem services provided by benthic communities and habitats. Marine reserves have been used to manage these impacts but our understanding of the drivers of their effectiveness for the conservation of temperate reefs is incomplete. We examined the effectiveness of marine reserves for recovery of temperate reef fauna in relation to their life history. We used an underwater video to sample six species with different life histories across 60 sites that varied in the duration of protection from towed mobile fishing gear at 0, 1, 8 and 10 years. Species with a high dispersal potential and less habitat specific requirements such as soft corals and king scallops recovered to close to their carrying capacity in <3 years. In contrast, the longer‐lived Ross coral and pink seafans increased in abundance but had not fully recovered; with their projected recovery time being 17–20 years. Ongoing recovery was evident for long‐lived species as their mean body size increased significantly across all treatments, whereas shorter‐lived species such as queen scallops did not change in size and were assumed to have fully recovered. Synthesis and applications. This study shows that the recovery rates of biota depend on life‐history factors, such as larval longevity and dispersal potential. Recovery for species that had low dispersal potential and specific habitat requirements was slow and could take >20 years. This suggests activities such as bottom trawling or dredging should be avoided where such species occur if their conservation is an objective. In contrast, species with high dispersal potential and less habitat specific requirements had shorter recovery timescales of c. 2‐3 years and would be more amenable to managed trawl frequencies in areas where activities such as fishing occur.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 56%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Recovery linked to life history of sessile epifauna following exclusion of towed mobile fishing gear

Kaiser

Hormbrey

Booth

et al. 2018

Journal of Applied Ecology

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“…While frame grabs were only analysed if they were on ‘reef’ habitat (which constituted seabed with rock, boulders and cobbles), reef associated fauna, such as soft corals Alcyonium digitatum (Linnaeus, 1758) and upright bryozoans Pentapora fascialis , were also observed on sediments that appeared to overlay bedrock [41].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recovery of a Temperate Reef Assemblage in a Marine Protected Area following the Exclusion of Towed Demersal Fishing

Sheehan¹,

Stevens

Gall³

et al. 2013

PLoS ONE

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Marine Protected Areas MPA have been widely used over the last 2 decades to address human impacts on marine habitats within an ecosystem management context. Few studies have quantified recovery of temperate rocky reef communities following the cessation of scallop dredging or demersal trawling. This is critical information for the future management of these habitats to contribute towards conservation and fisheries targets.The Lyme Bay MPA, in south west UK, has excluded towed demersal fishing gear from 206 km2 of sensitive reef habitat using a Statutory Instrument since July 2008.To assess benthic recovery in this MPA we used a flying video array to survey macro epi-benthos annually from 2008 to 2011. 4 treatments (the New Closure, previously voluntarily Closed Controls and Near or Far Open to fishing Controls) were sampled to test a recovery hypothesis that was defined as ‘the New Closure becoming more similar to the Closed Controls and less similar to the Open Controls’.Following the cessation of towed demersal fishing, within three years positive responses were observed for species richness, total abundance, assemblage composition and seven of 13 indicator taxa. Definitive evidence of recovery was noted for species richness and three of the indicator taxa (Pentapora fascialis, Phallusia mammillata and Pecten maximus).While it is hoped that MPAs, which exclude anthropogenic disturbance, will allow functional restoration of goods and services provided by benthic communities, it is an unknown for temperate reef systems. Establishing the likely timescales for restoration is key to future marine management. We demonstrate the early stages of successful recruitment and link these to the potential wider ecosystem benefits including those to commercial fisheries.

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Securing effective and equitable coverage of marine protected areas: The UK's progress towards achieving Convention on Biological Diversity commitments and lessons learned for the way forward

Johnson

Rees

Diz

et al. 2019

Aquatic Conservation

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Current international agreements call for protecting 10% of marine and coastal waters by 2020, with the intention of increasing that target to 30% by 2030. With 24% of its territorial waters protected, the UK falls short of the new expected target. As well as quantitative targets, qualitative criteria have been internationally agreed for protected area designation, including minimum coverage values and characteristics that encompass effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well‐connected systems of protected areas and other effective area‐based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscape and seascape. The legal framework supporting protected area designations at sea is summarized and explained for UK territorial waters. Efforts to date to achieve current marine protected area (MPA) targets are reviewed, with emphasis on how well the existing protected area portfolio captures the qualitative criteria. Examples are given of other effective conservation measures complementary to formalized MPAs, especially with regard to achieving and promoting qualitative criteria for biodiversity conservation, including appropriate recognition of and support for areas conserved by indigenous people, local communities and private entities. A precis on the governance of MPAs and other effective conservation measures in the UK and its overseas territories is presented. Whilst the UK has made exceptional progress with quantitative MPA coverage, it is still not clear whether designated areas offer effective protection. A UK‐level strategy is in place to address this; and at site level, Lyme Bay MPA illustrates the benefits of addressing qualitative criteria. Illustrated by the UK example, an urgent call is made for ongoing and future marine in situ area‐based conservation efforts to substantiate quantitative and qualitative considerations, and to ensure that MPA networks are ultimately fit for purpose.

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Drawing lines at the sand: Evidence for functional vs. visual reef boundaries in temperate Marine Protected Areas

Cited by 38 publications

References 67 publications

Recovery linked to life history of sessile epifauna following exclusion of towed mobile fishing gear

Recovery linked to life history of sessile epifauna following exclusion of towed mobile fishing gear

Recovery of a Temperate Reef Assemblage in a Marine Protected Area following the Exclusion of Towed Demersal Fishing

Securing effective and equitable coverage of marine protected areas: The UK's progress towards achieving Convention on Biological Diversity commitments and lessons learned for the way forward

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