Gradients of abundance and biomass across reserve boundaries in six Mediterranean marine protected areas: Evidence of fish spillover?

Harmelin-Vivien, Mireille; Diréach, Laurence Le; Bayle-Sempere, Just T.; Chabrière, Éric; García-Charton, José Antonio; Ody, Denis; Pérez-Ruzafa, Ángel; Reñones, Olga; Sánchez-Jérez, Pablo; Valle, Carlos

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2008.04.029

Cited by 171 publications

(188 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Our estimates of spillover distance are consistent with studies of large-scale partial-protection marine protected areas that find even greater spillover distances (Murawski et al 2005), with studies of adult movement patterns showing similar or greater distances of movement across reserve boundaries (for example (Samoilys 1997;Kelly & MacDiarmid 2003;Topping et al 2005), and with estimates from spillover studies that did not meet our inclusion criteria (Abesamis & Russ 2005;Goni et al 2008;Harmelin-Vivien et al 2008;Williams et al 2009). However, in all of these cases, spillover acts at relatively small scales such that single reserves cannot sustain entire fished stocks (through spillover alone; they may be able to provide this service through larval export).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Spillover from marine reserves and the replenishment of fished stocks

2009

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SUMMARYNo-take marine reserves are widely recognized as an effective conservation tool for protecting marine resources. Despite considerable empirical evidence that abundance and biomass of fished species increase within marine reserve boundaries, the potential for reserves to provide fisheries and conservation benefits to adjacent waters remains heavily debated. This paper uses statistical and population models to evaluate published empirical data on adult spillover from marine reserves and shows that spillover is a common phenomenon for species that respond positively to reserve protection, but at relatively small scales, detectable on average up to 800 m from reserve boundaries. At these small scales, local fisheries around reserves were likely unsustainable in 12 of 14 cases without the reserve, and spillover partially or fully offsets losses in catch due to reserve closure in the other two cases. For reserves to play a role in sustaining and replenishing larger-scale fished stocks, networks of reserves may be necessary, but as few exist this is difficult to evaluate. The results suggest reserves can simultaneously meet conservation objectives and benefit local fisheries adjacent to their boundaries.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Spillover from marine reserves and the replenishment of fished stocks

2009

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“…The underwater visual census (UVC) method is commonly employed for fish counts in Mediterranean marine environments (Guidetti et al 2003, Claudet et al 2006, Harmelin-Vivien et al 2008.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulation of the combined effects of artisanal and recreational fisheries on a Mediterranean MPA ecosystem using a trophic model

Albouy¹,

Mouillot²,

Rocklin³

et al. 2010

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Marine protected areas (MPAs) have the potential to enhance the long-term sustainability of coastal resources, and the artisanal fisheries which depend on them. However, recreational fisheries, which are increasing their impacts on coastal resources worldwide, may reduce the benefits that MPAs provide to declining artisanal fisheries. Here we used the Bonifacio Straits Natural Reserve (BSNR) Corsica as a study case to simulate the combined effects on coastal resources of artisanal and recreational fishing efforts. The BSNR ecosystem was modelled using mass-balance modelling of trophic interactions. This model was compared to another built on a non-protected area from the same region. We aggregated fishing fleets into artisanal and recreational categories, and we simulated various combinations of fishing effort over a 20 yr dynamic simulation using Ecosim. We showed that fishing activities have an additional top-down effect on the food web and that they decrease the targeted group's biomass, such as piscivorous species. We found, for some trophic groups, non-trivial patterns of biomass variation through trophic cascades. Our trophic approach revealed that some groups may suffer a biomass decrease when MPAs are set or enforced, due to the combined effect of artisanal and recreational fisheries. Overall, our results illustrate the value of modelling to manage MPAs, as a complementary tool to surveys. Models provide the opportunity to anticipate the potential consequences, at the ecosystem level, of socio-political decisions that aim to sustain coastal resources while managing artisanal and recreational fisheries.

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“…This may be due to an exportation of eggs, larvae, juveniles or adult individuals (Sabatés et al 2003, Di Franco et al 2012 and may contribute to the recolonization and increased catches of target species (Sabatés et al 2003, Guidetti 2007, Harmelin-Vivien et al 2008.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Video transects as a complement to underwater visual census to study reserve effect on fish assemblages

Prigent‐Tessier¹,

Pastor²,

Francour³

et al. 2013

Aquat. Biol.

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The present study focuses on the use of diver-operated video (DOV) as a tool to evaluate the impact of a marine reserve on a fish assemblage, in comparison to underwater visual census (UVC). Samplings were conducted in the vicinity of the marine protected area (MPA) Cerbère-Banyuls (northwestern Mediterranean Sea). Four sites, with different levels of protection, were sampled 4 times, at depths of 5 and 10 m, to study abundance, species richness, structure of fish assemblages and fish aggregation. Results obtained by DOV and UVC provided evidence of significant effects of protection on abundance, species richness and fish assemblages. However, detection of weaker reserve effects using DOV may be limited. Furthermore, certain species are difficult to identify by video (e.g. Symphodus spp.), but DOV may be useful when studying a target and/or easily identifiable species. Contrary to UVC, DOV data can be archived and used for further study. Results concerning fish aggregation within fish assemblages showed specific patterns. Sites outside the MPA were mainly characterized by the absence of fish or few fish aggregations, and sites inside were characterized by high fish density (i.e. dispersed or patched aggregations). Thus, the fish aggregation parameter measured using DOV is an interesting metric to quantify reserve effect. Consequently, although this technique is time-consuming to produce results, DOV presents great potential for estimating MPA effectiveness while allowing simultaneous work on several sites to limit temporal bias.

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Gradients of abundance and biomass across reserve boundaries in six Mediterranean marine protected areas: Evidence of fish spillover?

Cited by 171 publications

References 45 publications

Spillover from marine reserves and the replenishment of fished stocks

Spillover from marine reserves and the replenishment of fished stocks

Simulation of the combined effects of artisanal and recreational fisheries on a Mediterranean MPA ecosystem using a trophic model

Video transects as a complement to underwater visual census to study reserve effect on fish assemblages

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