Small-sized and well-enforced Marine Protected Areas provide ecological benefits for piscivorous fish populations worldwide

Rojo, Irene López; Meca, Julio Sánchez; García-Charton, José Antonio

doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.06.005

Cited by 24 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 90 publications

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“…In our study, the no‐take zones ranged between 78 (Tabarca) and 2,310 (Cabo de Gata) hectares. However, it has recently been found that even small but well enforced MPAs are effective for some commercial fish species and the whole community in the Mediterranean Sea (Giakoumi et al, 2017), and for piscivore populations worldwide (Rojo, Sánchez‐Meca & García‐Charton, 2019). In fact, enforcement has been found to be a critical factor driving ecological effectiveness (Guidetti et al, 2008; Edgar et al, 2014; Giakoumi et al, 2017; Rojo, Sánchez‐Meca & García‐Charton, 2019), and the financial support for conservation is critical for achieving ecological management effectiveness (Gill et al, 2017; Scianna et al, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, it has recently been found that even small but well enforced MPAs are effective for some commercial fish species and the whole community in the Mediterranean Sea (Giakoumi et al, 2017), and for piscivore populations worldwide (Rojo, Sánchez‐Meca & García‐Charton, 2019). In fact, enforcement has been found to be a critical factor driving ecological effectiveness (Guidetti et al, 2008; Edgar et al, 2014; Giakoumi et al, 2017; Rojo, Sánchez‐Meca & García‐Charton, 2019), and the financial support for conservation is critical for achieving ecological management effectiveness (Gill et al, 2017; Scianna et al, 2019). Cabo de Palos, followed by Tabarca and Es Freus were the MPAs in which there were higher levels of enforcement, measured as the total number of days per year with effective surveillance and no major episodes of poaching (following Guidetti et al, 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Marine protected areas (MPAs) are recognized as effective tools for the conservation of biodiversity and fisheries management (Pérez-Ruzafa, García-Charton & Marcos, 2017). When effectively designed and managed, MPAs show positive effects on the recovery of the density and biomass of exploited fishes, especially those of large size, located at higher trophic positions, playing key roles in marine ecosystems, and of commercial importance (Mosquera et al, 2000;Côté, Mosquera & Reynolds, 2001;Micheli, Halpern & Botsford, 2004;Guidetti & Sala, 2007;Claudet et al, 2008;Guidetti et al, 2008;Sciberras et al, 2013;Edgar et al, 2014;Guidetti et al, 2014;Hackradt et al, 2014;Rojo, Sánchez-Meca & García-Charton, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Marine protected areas (MPAs) are recognized as effective tools for the conservation of biodiversity and fisheries management (Pérez‐Ruzafa, García‐Charton & Marcos, 2017). When effectively designed and managed, MPAs show positive effects on the recovery of the density and biomass of exploited fishes, especially those of large size, located at higher trophic positions, playing key roles in marine ecosystems, and of commercial importance (Mosquera et al, 2000; Côté, Mosquera & Reynolds, 2001; Micheli, Halpern & Botsford, 2004; Guidetti & Sala, 2007; Claudet et al, 2008; Guidetti et al, 2008; Sciberras et al, 2013; Edgar et al, 2014; Guidetti et al, 2014; Hackradt et al, 2014; Rojo, Sánchez‐Meca & García‐Charton, 2019). Although the efficacy of fully protected areas, or no‐take zones, as conservation measures has been widely accepted (Claudet et al, 2008; Edgar et al, 2014; Friedlander et al, 2017), the adequacy of implementing partially protected areas, or buffer zones, allowing extractive activities to different degrees (Sala & Giakoumi, 2017), has been extensively debated, as they are expected to be less effective than fully protected areas (Lester & Halpern, 2008; Lester et al, 2009; Sciberras et al, 2013; Giakoumi et al, 2017; Sala & Giakoumi, 2017), or can even exert a negative effect on conservation purposes (Claudet et al, 2008; Sciberras et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Detection of protection benefits for predatory fishes depends on census methodology

Rojo

Irigoyen

Cuadros

et al. 2021

Aquatic Conservation

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1. Marine protected areas (MPAs) are used as fisheries management and conservation tools. Well-enforced no-take zones allow the rebuilding of natural populations of exploited species; however, there is still controversy on the role of buffer zones.2. The effectiveness of MPAs could be underestimated, as fish population assessments depend largely on traditional methodologies that have difficulties in detecting predatory fish because of their low abundances, their patchy distribution, and their reaction to the presence of divers.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Detection of protection benefits for predatory fishes depends on census methodology

Rojo

Irigoyen

Cuadros

et al. 2021

Aquatic Conservation

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“…Multiple MPA features have been identified as crucial to achieve protection for fish, including the age, the level of protection, compliance and enforcement of the MPA (Claudet et al 2008;Guidetti et al 2008;Edgar et al 2014;Giakoumi et al 2017). Nevertheless, there is also strong evidence that the effectiveness of MPAs in protecting ecologically and commercially valuable fish species, especially with low mobility, depends on the MPA size relative to the home ranges of species being protected (Kramer and Chapman 1999;Di Franco et al 2018;Rojo et al 2019). The bio-ecological effectiveness of MPAs tends to increase when the fishes' reproductive grounds and the spatial scale of species' movements/ migrations, that make them more vulnerable to fishing, are encompassed (Grüss et al 2011;Sadovy de Mitcheson 2016;Erisman et al 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using complementary visual approaches to investigate residency, site fidelity and movement patterns of the dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) in a Mediterranean marine protected area

Desiderà

Trainito²,

Navone³

et al. 2021

Mar Biol

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Assessing individuals’ abundance, residency (presence at a site within a certain period) and site fidelity (tendency to return to the same site in subsequent seasons or years) is crucial for evaluating and improving the effectiveness of spatial conservation/management measures regarding ecologically and socio-economically valuable species. Using underwater visual census (UVC) and photo-identification (photo-ID) techniques, we estimated the abundance, residency and site fidelity of the dusky grouper, Epinephelus marginatus, at two protected sites within the Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo Marine Protected Area (Sardinia, Italy) in the summers of 2017–2018. The scope and spatio-temporal resolution of the study was extended by involving volunteer recreational divers in the photo collection. Grouper mean densities varied significantly across sampling dates, with a significant variability between the 2 years and the two investigated sites. At least 94 grouper visited the study sites in the summers of 2017–2018 based on the analysis of 968 high-quality photos using a semi-automated software to photo-identify individuals. Overall, the most frequently sighted grouper was recorded on 32 different days and 21 individuals (22%) identified in 2017 were re-sighted in 2018. The participation of volunteer recreational divers helped detect the inter-site (3.5–4 km apart) movements of a female and a male, supporting previous findings regarding the occurrence of reproduction-related movements. This study provides novel insights into the residency and site-fidelity patterns of the dusky grouper, and its small-scale movements probably related to reproduction. Specifically, we provide indications that effective protection from fishing should encompass the entire area used by grouper for reproductive movements.

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Movement patterns of a Critically Endangered elasmobranch (Dipturus intermedius) in a Marine Protected Area

Lavender

Aleynik

Dodd

et al. 2021

Aquatic Conservation

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Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are widely used in marine management, but for mobile species understanding the spatio‐temporal scale of management measures that is required to deliver conservation benefits depends on a detailed knowledge of species’ movements that is often lacking. This is especially the case for species of skate (Rajidae) for which relatively few movement studies have been conducted. In Scotland, the Loch Sunart to the Sound of Jura MPA covering 741 km2 has been designated for the conservation of the Critically Endangered flapper skate (Dipturus intermedius), but fine‐scale movements within this area remain poorly understood. A passive acoustic telemetry study which coupled acoustic tagging of 42 individuals and a static array of 58 receivers was conducted from March 2016 to June 2017. Using acoustic detection time series, angler capture–recapture data and depth time series from archival tags, fine‐scale movements of individuals were investigated. Overall, 33 of the 42 tagged individuals were detected. Residency, site fidelity and transiency were documented. Residency around receivers, lasting from 3 to more than 12 months, was documented in 16 acoustically detected individuals (48%) and all life‐history categories, but was most noticeable among females. Acoustic detections were associated with depth, salinity and season, but there was no evidence that individuals formed close‐knit groups in the areas in which they were detected. Taken together with historical occurrence records of flapper skate, the prevalence and scale of residency documented here suggest that the MPA is sufficiently large to benefit a notable percentage (38 [24–52]%) of skate found in the study area over monthly and seasonal timescales. This result strengthens the case for the use of MPAs to support the conservation of flapper skate and other skate species that display similar movement patterns in areas of high local abundance.

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Small-sized and well-enforced Marine Protected Areas provide ecological benefits for piscivorous fish populations worldwide

Cited by 24 publications

References 90 publications

Detection of protection benefits for predatory fishes depends on census methodology

Detection of protection benefits for predatory fishes depends on census methodology

Using complementary visual approaches to investigate residency, site fidelity and movement patterns of the dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) in a Mediterranean marine protected area

Movement patterns of a Critically Endangered elasmobranch (Dipturus intermedius) in a Marine Protected Area

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