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Marine reserves are a key tool for the conservation of marine biodiversity, yet only ~2.5% of the world's oceans are protected. The integration of marine reserves into connected networks representing all habitats has been encouraged by international agreements, yet the benefits of this design has not been tested empirically. Australia has one of the largest systems of marine reserves, providing a rare opportunity to assess how connectivity influences conservation success. An Australia-wide dataset was collected using baited remote underwater video systems deployed across a depth range from 0 to 100 m to assess the effectiveness of marine reserves for protecting teleosts subject to commercial and recreational fishing. A meta-analytical comparison of 73 fished species within 91 marine reserves found that, on average, marine reserves had 28% greater abundance and 53% greater biomass of fished species compared to adjacent areas open to fishing. However, benefits of protection were not observed across all reserves (heterogeneity), so full subsets generalized additive modelling was used to consider factors that influence marine reserve effectiveness, including distance-based and ecological metrics of connectivity among reserves. Our results suggest that increased connectivity and depth improve the aforementioned marine reserve benefits and that these factors should be considered to optimize such benefits over time. We provide important guidance on factors to consider when implementing marine reserves for the purpose of increasing the abundance and size of fished species, given the expected increase in coverage globally. We show that marine reserves that are highly protected (no-take) and designed to optimize connectivity, size and depth range can provide an effective conservation strategy for fished species in temperate and tropical waters within an overarching marine biodiversity conservation framework.

The Kimberley marine environment in Western Australia is widely recognised for its outstanding natural features, vast and remote sea and landscapes, and Indigenous cultural significance. To ensure that adequate baseline information is available to understand, monitor and manage this remote and relatively understudied region, scientific exploration was undertaken between 2012 and 2018 as part of the Kimberley Marine Research Program (KMRP). Whilst this program generated significant amounts of new knowledge about the region, important research gaps remain, that if answered, should improve the capacity of managers to conserve the region's values more effectively. Here, we apply established participatory horizon scanning methods to draw on the expertise and understanding of 24 scientists and 18 managers (12 natural resource managers and 6 healthy country managers) involved in the KMRP, and assess their most essential remaining research needs for informing management of the region. Through this process, we identify a total of 184 research questions spanning seven themes: (i) habitats, (ii) fauna, (iii) ecological processes, (iv) pressures, (v) management, (vi) oceanography, and (vii) geomorphology. Of the 184 questions that formed the basis of this study, 29% related to the theme of ‘management’, followed by questions relating to ‘fauna’ (21%) and ‘pressures’ (20%). Questions assigned to the theme of ‘habitats’ (13%), ‘ecological processes’ (10%), and ‘oceanography’ (6%) were less common, whilst questions that related to ‘geomorphology’ only constituted 1% of all questions provided by study participants. Subtle differences in the types of questions posed by the scientist and manager groups were also evident, with questions relating to ‘ecological process’ and ‘oceanography’ overwhelmingly provided by scientists; questions in the themes ‘fauna’ and ‘management’ were mainly provided by Healthy Country Managers; and questions posed by natural resource managers were distribu

The Kimberley marine environment in Western Australia is widely recognised for its outstanding natural features, vast and remote sea and landscapes, and Indigenous cultural significance. To ensure that adequate baseline information is available to understand, monitor and manage this remote and relatively understudied region, scientific exploration was undertaken between 2012 and 2018 as part of the Kimberley Marine Research Program (KMRP). Whilst this program generated significant amounts of new knowledge about the region, important research gaps remain, that if answered, should improve the capacity of managers to conserve the region's values more effectively. Here, we apply established participatory horizon scanning methods to draw on the expertise and understanding of 24 scientists and 18 managers (12 natural resource managers and 6 healthy country managers) involved in the KMRP, and assess their most essential remaining research needs for informing management of the region. Through this process, we identify a total of 184 research questions spanning seven themes: (i) habitats, (ii) fauna, (iii) ecological processes, (iv) pressures, (v) management, (vi) oceanography, and (vii) geomorphology. Of the 184 questions that formed the basis of this study, 29% related to the theme of ‘management’, followed by questions relating to ‘fauna’ (21%) and ‘pressures’ (20%). Questions assigned to the theme of ‘habitats’ (13%), ‘ecological processes’ (10%), and ‘oceanography’ (6%) were less common, whilst questions that related to ‘geomorphology’ only constituted 1% of all questions provided by study participants. Subtle differences in the types of questions posed by the scientist and manager groups were also evident, with questions relating to ‘ecological process’ and ‘oceanography’ overwhelmingly provided by scientists; questions in the themes ‘fauna’ and ‘management’ were mainly provided by Healthy Country Managers; and questions posed by natural resource managers were distribu

As pressure on coastal marine resources is increasing globally, the need to quantitatively assess vulnerable fish stocks is crucial in order to avoid the ecological consequences of stock depletions. Species of Sciaenidae (croakers, drums) are important components of tropical and temperate fisheries and are especially vulnerable to exploitation. The black-spotted croaker, Protonibea diacanthus, is the only large sciaenid in coastal waters of northern Australia where it is targeted by commercial, recreational and indigenous fishers due to its food value and predictable aggregating behaviour. Localized declines in the abundance of this species have been observed, highlighting the urgent requirement by managers for information on fine- and broad-scale population connectivity. This study examined the population structure of P. diacanthus across north-western Australia using three complementary methods: genetic variation in microsatellite markers, otolith elemental composition and parasite assemblage composition. The genetic analyses demonstrated that there were at least five genetically distinct populations across the study region, with gene flow most likely restricted by inshore biogeographic barriers such as the Dampier Peninsula. The otolith chemistry and parasite analyses also revealed strong spatial variation among locations within broad-scale regions, suggesting fine-scale location fidelity within the lifetimes of individual fish. The complementarity of the three techniques elucidated patterns of connectivity over a range of spatial and temporal scales. We conclude that fisheries stock assessments and management are required at fine scales (100 s of km) to account for the restricted exchange among populations (stocks) and to prevent localized extirpations of this species. Realistic management arrangements may involve the successive closure and opening of fishing areas to reduce fishing pressure.

We reviewed the adoption and implementation of smokefree policies in all Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) countries. Significant progress has been achieved among LAC countries since the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) was adopted i

We reviewed the adoption and implementation of smokefree policies in all Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) countries. Significant progress has been achieved among LAC countries since the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) was adopted i