Parasites of Percophis brasiliensis (Percophidae) benefited from fishery regulations: Indicators of success for marine protected areas?

Abstract

Fishing is the greatest source of anthropogenic impact on global marine resources and the ecosystems supporting them. The decline of many fish stocks has led to the need to apply control and protection measures to promote the recovery of these resources. In the Argentine Sea, a multispecies coastal fishery in the El Rincón region has displayed signs of overexploitation since the beginning of the century. Consequently, temporal and spatial protection measures were implemented in 2004. In previous studies, an independent stock of Percophis brasiliensis in El Rincón was identified based on the parasite communities of fish caught in 2005. However, no subsequent studies using parasite communities have been performed since the protective fishery closure measures were applied. To evaluate parasites as indicators of temporal change in the El Rincón stock of P. brasiliensis after the implementation of these protection measures, a sample from 2018 was compared with that from the previous study, as well as with three other samples. Two of the latter (Argentine Common Fishing Zone and San Matías Gulf) corresponded to previously identified independent stocks in the Argentine biogeographical province and the third was a new sample from the Magellanic Province in southern Patagonian waters. The structure and composition of parasite assemblages of the El Rincón stock of P. brasiliensis differed significantly in 2018, after several years of protective measures. The increased loads observed in several parasite species constitute a promising signal of successful ecosystem recovery. A discrete stock in the Magellanic Province was also identified, providing insights into the population structure of P. brasiliensis along its distributional range, with applications for the sustainable management of this resource.

Major drivers of biodiversity loss and their impacts on helminth parasite populations and communities

“…These authors attributed the decline in parasite density to a reduction in parasite habitat and resources (host population) in fished host populations, although effects on abundance at the infrapopulation level were less common (Wood et al, 2013). Braicovich et al (2021) used a different approach, comparing parasites of the Brazilian flathead (Percophis brasiliensis) before and after closure of a fishery off Argentina. They observed significant changes in parasite community structure and composition after several years of closure, resulting from increased abundances of several parasites, all of which were generalists.…”

“…Braicovich et al (2021) used a different approach, comparing parasites of the Brazilian flathead ( Percophis brasiliensis ) before and after closure of a fishery off Argentina. They observed significant changes in parasite community structure and composition after several years of closure, resulting from increased abundances of several parasites, all of which were generalists.…”

“…They observed significant changes in parasite community structure and composition after several years of closure, resulting from increased abundances of several parasites, all of which were generalists. A number of these parasites infected elasmobranchs as definitive hosts, whose populations have benefitted from the closure (Braicovich et al , 2021). Others use marine mammals, which have also benefited from a cessation of harvesting (Braicovich et al , 2021).…”

Integrating parasite assemblages and host genetics for population discrimination in the black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci) in natural protected areas of the northern Yucatan peninsula

“…Regional fisheries might threaten not only the targeted population, but also entire communities of organisms, including their parasites, by reducing host abundance and food web complexity, which affect their transmission efficiency, population density and assemblage taxa richness (Wood & Lafferty, 2015; Braicovich et al ., 2021). Furthermore, it is important to preserve black groupers from Dzilam since they may act as reservoirs for rare genotypes (7.2% were unique), which gives a certain degree of distinctness to this particular subunit.…”

A century of parasitology in fisheries and aquaculture

“…Only a few exceptions were unable to detect changes in parasite loads (Loot et al , 2005; Ternengo et al , 2009). Most of these studies have also evaluated the effect of MPAs on fish parasites by comparing protected and unprotected areas, with the exception of Braicovich et al (2021), who compared temporal changes in the composition and structure of parasite communities of P. brasiliensis . The hosts were caught at the beginning of the implementation of protection measures (temporal and spatial closures to fishery) and after a period of 13 years in a coastal region of northern Argentina (table 2).…”