Valuing Changes in the Quality of Coral Reef Ecosystems: A Stated Preference Study of SCUBA Diving in the Bonaire National Marine Park

Parsons, George R.; Thur, Steven M.

doi:10.1007/s10640-007-9171-y

Cited by 72 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Second, reduced catch of juveniles could result in a greater number of reproductively mature fish, thereby increasing population productivity. Third, reduced catch of bycatch fish could increase biodiversity, and thereby tourist interest, since many recreational divers consider species diversity a key attraction of coral reef dives (Parsons & Thur 2008). Escape gaps have great potential to benefit both fishermen and conservation, and requiring escape gaps in all reef environments where traps are used would represent an important step towards sustainable management.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reducing bycatch in coral reef trap fisheries: escape gaps as a step towards sustainability

Johnson

2010

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Widespread use of minimally selective fish traps has contributed to the overfishing of Caribbean coral reefs. Traps typically target high-value fish such as groupers (Serranidae and Epinephelidae) and snappers (Lutjanidae), but they also have high bycatch of ecologically important herbivores (parrotfish (Scaridae) and surgeonfish (Acanthuridae)) and non-target species. One strategy for reducing this bycatch is to retrofit traps with rectangular escape gaps that allow juveniles and narrow-bodied species to escape; yet the effectiveness of these gaps has not been thoroughly tested. On the shallow reefs of Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles, I compared the catch of traditional Antillean chevron traps (the control) to the catch of traps with short escape gaps (20 × 2.5 cm), traps with tall escape gaps (40 × 2.5 cm), and traps with a panel of large aperture mesh. With data from 190 24-h trap sets, the mean number of fish caught was 11.84 in control traps, 4.88 in short gap traps, 4.43 in tall gap traps, and 0.34 in large mesh traps. Compared to controls, traps with short or tall gaps caught significantly fewer bycatch fish (-74 and -80% respectively), key herbivores (-58 and -50% respectively), and butterflyfish (Chaetodontidae; -90 and -98% respectively). The mean length of captured fish was significantly greater in gap traps because juveniles were able to escape via the gaps. Escape gaps reduce neither the catch of high-value fish, nor the total market value of the catch. Therefore, using escape gaps could make trap fishing more sustainable without reducing fishermen's revenues.KEY WORDS: Fish traps · Bycatch · Escape gaps · Parrotfish · Caribbean · Coral reef fisheries · Gear-based fisheries management · Artisanal fisheries 415: 201-209, 2010 Jamaica in the 1970s, researchers have examined the influences of soak time, trap shape, bait, habitat type, conspecific attraction, lunar phase, and local level of exploitation (e.g. Munro et al. 1971, Munro 1974, Ferry & Kohler 1987, Dalzell & Aini 1992, Wolff et al. 1999, Robichaud et al. 2000, Garrison et al. 2004). However, research on the management of trap fisheries has focused almost exclusively on the use of larger mesh sizes to reduce the catch of juveniles (e.g. Bohnsack et al. 1989, Robichaud & Hunte 1997, Sary et al. 1997, Stewart 2007. One drawback of this approach is that, given the diversity of fish caught with traps, it is impossible to select one mesh size that optimizes the yield of all exploited species (Mahon & Hunte 2001). An alternative modification to fish traps, the inclusion of escape gaps that allow juveniles and narrow-bodied species to exit, is a promising method of bycatch reduction that deserves further investigation. Munro et al. (2003) tested escape gaps (largest gap size 9.0 × 3.3 cm) in double-arrowhead-shaped traps (an experimental trap design not used by fishermen), and showed that gaps reduce both catch quantity and catch mass relative to controls. Inspired by Curaçao's proposed regulation to require escape gaps in all traps, I e...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reducing bycatch in coral reef trap fisheries: escape gaps as a step towards sustainability

Johnson

2010

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…A previous study suggested that the value of Bonaire's reefs could decrease by up to US$538 million year -1 if underwater visibility, coral cover and species diversity declined below certain thresholds (Parsons and Thur 2008). Although reef degradation has already occurred in Bonaire (Bak and Nieuwland 1995;Bak et al 2005 Finally, the apparent decline in acceptance of diver user fees (97% for the US$10 fee in 2002 (Uyarra 2002) vs. 90% for the $25 fee in this study) may be because acceptance of higher fees may increase gradually over time, or the new fee may be close to the maximum WTP.…”

Section: Changing Attitudes Toward Bnmp User Feesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Charging for Nature: Marine Park Fees and Management from a User Perspective

Uyarra

Gill

Côté

2010

AMBIO

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User fees can contribute to the financial sustainability of marine protected areas (MPAs), yet they must be acceptable to users. We explore changes in the fee system and management of Bonaire National Marine Park (BNMP) from the perspective of users. Responses from 393 tourists indicated that 90% were satisfied with park conditions and considered current user fees reasonable. However, only 47% of divers and 40% of non-divers were prepared to pay more. Diver willingness-to-pay (WTP) appears to have decreased since 1991, but this difference could be due in part to methodological differences between studies. Although current fees are close to diver maximum stated WTP, revenues could potentially be increased by improving the current fee system in ways that users deem acceptable. This potential surplus highlights the value of understanding user perceptions toward MPA fees and management.

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“…Divers may also be less willing to pay a conservation access fee as the quality of a dive site declines in terms of visibility, species diversity, and coral cover (Parsons and Thur 2008). The continued growth of recreational diving is thus a threat to both the ecological and economic sustainability of reefs (Davis and Tisdell 1995) and should be considered in the planning of effective marine resource management strategies.…”

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confidence: 99%

Impacts of Recreational Divers on Palauan Coral Reefs and Options for Management

Poonian¹,

Davis²,

McNaughton

2010

Pacific Science

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Recent growth in the popularity of recreational scuba diving has generated concerns about resulting impacts to coral reefs, particularly in locations such as the Republic of Palau, a world-renowned dive destination with rapidly increasing numbers of visitors. Divers were observed in-water at three of the most visited dive sites in the Rock Islands-Southern Lagoon Area: German Channel, Ngerchong, and Big Drop-off. Dive guides were interviewed about diver impacts at German Channel and Ngerchong. Divers' contact rates with hard coral ranged from 0.87 e 0.27 to 2.98 e 0.59 contacts diver À1 10 min À1

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Valuing Changes in the Quality of Coral Reef Ecosystems: A Stated Preference Study of SCUBA Diving in the Bonaire National Marine Park

Abstract: Coral reef, Marine protected area, Non-market valuation,

Cited by 72 publications

References 15 publications

Reducing bycatch in coral reef trap fisheries: escape gaps as a step towards sustainability

Reducing bycatch in coral reef trap fisheries: escape gaps as a step towards sustainability

Charging for Nature: Marine Park Fees and Management from a User Perspective

Impacts of Recreational Divers on Palauan Coral Reefs and Options for Management

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