Search

The Chañaral Island Marine Reserve (CIMR) is a protected area in north-central Chile that is a feeding area for large cetaceans such as fin, blue and humpback whales. However, a number of studies indicate that a large proportion of whale sightings occur outside this protected area. Thus, an increase in the size (or dimension) of the protected area has been suggested. This requires ensuring compatibility of the protected area with economic activities which take place there, especially fishing, tourism and diving. This study proposes a strategic plan for expanding the CIMR area developed using the decision-making algorithm MARXAN. We proposed three conservation scenarios: Scenario 0 divided the proposed area into planning units (PU) classed as either "obligatory" or "available"; Scenario 1 in which all PUs were "available" and Scenario 2 with the PUs "obligatory", "available" and "suggested". The results suggest that Scenario 2 is the most favorable for conservation, since it supports increasing the current area of the reserve, adding a second nautical mile around the island. This would create an area sufficient to fulfill the conservation goals for the three whale species (30% of the feeding areas for blue and fin whales and 10% for humpback whale) without producing an impact on the current activities in the CIMR. This zoning proposal provides a roadmap for the development of protected areas based on scientific baseline, including the participation of local communities that ultimately should validate the proposal to successfully support its implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving the UN SD Goals requires the conservation of keystone marine species. As top predators, many sharks play a crucial role in balancing marine ecosystems; yet, they have been experiencing severe population declines. Overfishing is indisputably the main threat to shark populations, but little is known about the impact of non-extractive human pressure. This study tests the effect of varied human presence on shark behavior at an insular marine reserve. In 2020, humans were virtually absent from Fernando de Noronha (FEN), Brazil, during a 211-days lockdown period prompted by the COVID-19 pandemics. A local shark tracking program rendered nearly 280000 acoustic detections in coastal waters from 2016 through 2021. Lemon sharks, Negaprion brevirostris , showed a 43% increase in detection rate during the lockdown which was ascribed to the concomitant decrease in human presence. In contrast, the detection rate of tiger sharks, Galeocerdo cuvier , decreased by 67% during the lockdown, but this trend was likely related to seasonality in tiger shark behavior. After the lockdown, both species' detection rates tended to return to previous levels. Further, lemon sharks increased diurnal coastal residency and made more use of areas less restrictive to human use during the lockdown, whilst tiger sharks increased nocturnal coastal residency during and after the lockdown period. Contrasting trends might relate with lemon sharks completing their life cycle in FEN and tiger sharks being migrants arriving to FEN at older ages and being less exposed to local anthropogenic stimuli across ontogeny. This study demonstrates that non-extractive human disturbance can induce significant changes in the way marine predators explore crucial habitats for accomplishing trophic, reproductive, and ontogenetic functions. Ascertaining the ecological impacts of marine-based human development should thus consider cryptic responses by keystone megafauna to the anthropogenic landscape produced by an ever-growing coastal population. The designation of human exclusion marine areas could emerge as the single solution to endow shark populations with suitable habitats for optimizing their resilience to human pressure. [Display omitted] • Knowledge of shark responses to human pressure is crucial for ensuring their conservation. • The COVID-19 lockdown drastically reduced human presence at a touristic marine protected area. • Acoustic tracking revealed significant effects of human disturbance on shark behavior. • Interspecific differences in shark behavioral responses to varied human presence were observed. • Non-extractive human pressure may prompt harmful impacts on lemon shark fitness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fishery managers face an ongoing challenge in managing commercial fisheries in a way which enables the delivery of economic benefits while ensuring those benefits do not compromise the ability of fish stock to deliver future benefits. This challenge is complicated by fishing effort negatively impacting the habitats which support fish stocks and so undermining sustainability of the resource. Depletion of fish stocks and subsequent rebuilding efforts have necessitated the development of strategies which dictate harvest control mechanisms. In this paper, we explore the economically optimal design of these rebuilding strategies for a fishery depleted by overfishing and where the fishing effort results in a negative habitat externality. We assume the harvest control mechanisms include a harvest control rule and a no-take marine reserve and find that the economically optimal recovery of the stock will always incorporate both mechanisms, although the relative weight put on each will change according to biological and economic conditions. We find that the achievement of desired fishery outcomes is generally robust to "approximately optimal" specifications of the rebuilding strategy, except where the fishing habitat is vulnerable. In these conditions, it may be optimal to lead the population to extinction, via depletion of habitat. • We use an optimal control approach to study the recovery of a fishery with habitat effects. • A harvest control rule and a marine reserve manage the fishery close to an optimal path. • The instruments used in the recovery strategies depend on biological and economic factors. • The harvest control rule is less adequate if the fish habitat is severely affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Understanding how no-take zones (NTZs) shape the population dynamics of key herbivores is crucial for the conservation and management of temperate benthic communities. Here, we examine the recovery patterns of sea urchin populations following a high-intensity storm under contrasting protection regimes in the NW Mediterranean Sea. We found significant differences in the recovery trends of Paracentrotus lividus abundance and biomass in the five years following the storm. The P. lividus populations outside the NTZ recovered faster than the populations inside the NTZ, revealing that predation was the main factor controlling the sea urchin populations inside the NTZ during the study period. Arbacia lixula reached the highest abundance and biomass values ever observed outside the NTZ in 2016. Our findings reveal that predation can control the establishment of new sea urchin populations and emphasize top-down control in NTZs, confirming the important role of fully protected areas in the structure of benthic communities. Highlights • Top-down controls are the main force controlling the recovery of depleted herbivorous populations. • Fully protected areas have an important role in the recovery patterns of sea urchin populations. • Well-designed long-term monitoring is key for a better understanding of the natural dynamics of benthic populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The Peruvian scallop (Argopecten purpuratus) is the second main contributor to the total catch of mollusks in Peru, after jumbo squid. There are two main scallop banks populations in northern Peru: Lobos de Tierra Island (LTI) and Sechura Bay (SB). Despite a continuous, intense relocation of seeds from LTI, the natural bank population still persists there. To understand this, we studied larval connectivity between LTI and SB using the first invertebrate larval transport biophysical model developed in the region. Larval local retention were 2.4% and 1.57% on average at LTI and SB respectively, while larval transport from SB to LTI was 0.02% on average and 0.07% in the opposite direction. Both larval retention and larval transport increased with spawning depth and were highest in austral summer. Two main larval transport paths from SB to LTI were identified, resulting from a combination of horizontal mesoscale circulation patterns and vertical flows. Potential management implications for these natural banks are discussed. Highlights • Larval transport model of Peruvian scallop simulated retention and transport between two natural banks in Northern Peru. • Larval retention and larval transport of Peruvian scallop increased with spawning depth and were highest in austral summer. • Larval transport paths between the two natural banks depended on complex mesoscale circulation patterns and vertical flows. • Daily and monthly wind forcings changed simulated mean larval transport but retention was not affected. • Restoration and maintenance of both natural banks will improve sustainability of aquaculture activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • An ecosystem service matrix was developed and applied in marine protected areas. • Integrating habitat area and quality improved estimates of service potential. • Results demonstrated increased service provision over time following protection. • Results demonstrated differences in service provision across marine protected areas. • The approach helps to communicate the non-market value of marine conservation. Abstract Matrix approaches are useful for linking ecosystem services to habitats that underpin their delivery. Matrix applications in marine ecosystem services research have been primarily qualitative, focusing on 'habitat presence' without including other attributes that effect service potential. We developed an evidence-based matrix approach of Ecosystem Service Potential (ESP) for New Zealand benthic marine habitats, and used two marine reserves to demonstrate that integrating information on the spatial extent and quality of habitats improved ESP evaluation. The two case studies identified substantial spatio-temporal variability in ESP: within one reserve, specific ESP showed an approximately 1.5-fold increase in the 29 years following protection. A comparison of two reserves found that the spatial extent of habitats contributing to the medicinal resources and waste-water treatment were 5 and 53 times greater respectively in one relative to the other. Integrating habitat area and quality with the ESP matrix improves on previous marine matrix-based approaches, providing a better indication of service potential. The matrix approach helps to communicate the non-market value of supporting and regulating services and can be used by resource managers to identify and track the potential for benefits derived from benthic marine habitats within existing, or new, marine protected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Approach starting distance explained most variability in measures of fish wariness. • Other key variables were fish body length, activity, and water depth. • Effect sizes of key variables were large in comparison to fishing. • New direct measure of minimum approach distance was shorter in the marine reserve. • Flight initiation distance did not differ between reserve and fished areas. Abstract Behavioral changes due to human predation can affect the functional role of targeted fishes and has implications for ecosystem and fisheries management. Wariness of targeted fishes towards divers, often measured as flight initiation distance (FID), has been shown to increase in areas where spear fishing pressure is higher. Additional research is required to understand how these patterns vary among different species and places. To support such studies, there is a need to explore the relationship of approach starting distance (SD) and other variables that influence measures of fish wariness. We used stereo video to record FID, a new direct measure of minimum approach distance (dMAD), and escape responses of targeted reef fishes in a marine reserve and heavily fished area in Hawai'i. We investigated the role of SD and 15 other variables in influencing FID and dMAD and tested differences between the reserve and fished area. SD explained a large portion of the variability in FID and somewhat less variability in dMAD. FID and dMAD were higher when fishes were travelling (vs feeding), increased with fish body length, and decreased with depth. When including these co-variates in models of FID and dMAD of targeted reef fishes, we found significant differences between study sites for dMAD, though not for FID. We also found differences in escape responses between sites. Based on these results, we recommend using stereo video to conduct measures of dMAD as a complement or alternative to FID, while simultaneously measuring SD and collecting additional data such as escape response. Relative effect sizes of SD and, to a lesser extent, other co-variates were large in comparison to site. Studies that use similar methods and do not control for or incorporate SD may produce biased results with regard to the effects of fishing pressure on flight behavior of targeted fishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Describing the spatial patterns of benthic coastal habitats and investigating how those patterns affect the ecology of inhabiting species is a main objective of seascape ecology. Within this emerging discipline spatial scale is a principal topic. Different spatial scales inform on different characteristics of the habitat and therefore the relation between species and their habitats would be better defined when observed at multiple levels of spatial scale. Here we apply a multiscale seascape approach to investigate the habitat preferences of juvenile and adult individuals of dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) in a Mediterranean marine protected area. Results show that the information obtained at different spatial scales is complementary, improving our capability to identify the preferred habitats and how it changes throughout ontogeny. These results show the relevance of implementing multiscale seascape ecology approaches to investigate the species-habitat relationships and to improve management and conservation of necto-benthic endangered top predators. Highlights • Multiscale analyses allowed characterizing dusky grouper habitats along ontogeny. • Seascape habitat descriptors at different scales provide complementary information. • Seascape ecology provide new insights for conservation on marine ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Protected areas are the primary management tool for conserving ecosystems, yet their intended outcomes may often be compromised by poaching. Consequently, many protected areas are ineffective 'paper parks' that contribute little towards conserving ecosystems. Poaching can be prevented through enforcement and engaging with community members so they support protected areas. It is not clear how much needs to be spent on enforcement and engagement to ensure they are frequent enough to be effective at conserving biodiversity. We develop models of enforcement against illegal fishing in marine protected areas. We apply the models to data on fishing rates and fish biomass from a marine protected area in Raja Ampat, Indonesia and explore how frequent enforcement patrols need to be to achieve targets for coral reef fish biomass. Achieving pristine levels of reef fish biomass required almost year-round enforcement of the protected area. Surveillance of the protected area may also be enhanced if local fishers who support the reserve report on poaching. The opportunity for local fishing boats to participate in surveillance was too small for it to have much benefit for total reef fish biomass, which increases slowly. However, specific functional groups of fish have much higher population growth rates and their biomass was predicted to increase markedly with community surveillance. We conclude that budgets for park management must balance the cost of conducting frequent patrols against supporting alternative activities, like education to build community support. Optimized budgets will be much more likely to achieve ecological targets for recovering fish biomasses and will contribute to fiscal sustainability of protected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The first systematic benthic survey in the deep sea (200–3000 m) of Australia's Great Australian Bight (GAB) was undertaken in 2015 to characterise the invertebrate megafauna, and to inform the selection of indicators and metrics for ecological monitoring ahead of oil and gas exploration. The survey yielded more than 629 species of invertebrate megafauna; of the 376 species with distributional data, 92 (25%) were undescribed and 77 were new records for Australian waters. The families and genera present were all known to occur in the deep sea and many species had been previously recorded in Australia and worldwide; faunal composition was broadly typical for temperate deep-sea regions. The highest diversities (>80 putative species, or Operational Taxonomic Units, OTUs) were recorded within the higher taxa Demospongiae, Decapoda, Gastropoda and Echinodermata. Multispecies analyses showed clear changes in the assemblage structure with depth; sponges and echinoderms dominated the overall biomass and density, with the former being more prominent in shallower depths. The assemblage structure is consistent with the GAB being a single provincial-scale bioregion, with no longitudinal pattern in assemblage, biomass or density distribution. Approximately 70% of species that could be assigned biogeographic data were previously recorded from Australia, with less than half (146 species, 39%) previously known from the GAB. Only two described species, the crab Choniognathus granulosus and barnacle Arcoscalpellum inum, appear restricted to the GAB; it would be premature to assign any undescribed species as having endemic status. The clear eastwards biogeographic affinity of the GAB fauna is influenced by the relatively high deep-sea sampling effort to the east off southeastern Australia and New Zealand. Our survey of invertebrate megafauna at baseline (unperturbed) sites provides the basis to evaluate indicators and metrics using a reference-site monitoring approach. A robust (consistent species-level) taxonomic foundation will enable a variety of assemblage-level (composite) metrics (e.g. richness, diversity, distinctness) to be derived, and this is possible across several major taxa including Porifera, Cnidaria, Mollusca, Echinodermata and Crustacea. Species-level data also permit structural and functional changes (including recovery) to be assessed in response to disturbance. Where reference sites should be established can only be determined once the exploration phase of industry development is further advanced because the spatial scales of potential impact are highly activity-specific. However, our data show the high importance of depth to selecting monitoring sites because invertebrate megafaunal assemblage composition (turnover), diversity, and abundance are all highly correlated with depth. Conversely, latitude is not important because the central GAB is a single biogeographic province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precautionary principle has become a cornerstone of modern fisheries management and is recognised as being of particular importance to the rebuilding of depleted stocks and in cases where fishing activity poses a risk to habitat. Harvest control rules and marine reserves offer two means of controlling fishing mortality, and provide managers with mechanisms through which precaution can be exercised. We incorporate the two control mechanisms into a bioeconomic model in which fishing-induced habitat damage occurs. A parameterized model is used to assess alternative ways of exercising precaution in stock recovery plans in achieving stock rebuilding, while taking into consideration the economic and socio-economic objectives of fisheries management. Results strengthen the case for using marine reserves to rebuild depleted stocks, highlighting their role in providing a hedge against negative habitat-fishery feedbacks by directly protecting biomass and indirectly preventing a decline in the carrying capacity. Overall, we show that where a fishery is characterised by fishing-induced habitat damage, a stock rebuilding strategy that incorporates both harvest control rules and marine reserves will outperform a strategy that uses the two control mechanisms individually, across all performance indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many of the world's large coastal cities discharge partially treated wastewater effluents containing various endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) to coastal environments. Nonylphenols (NP) and bisphenol A (BPA) were found to be the most abundant EDCs in sewage effluents in Hong Kong. The environmental fate and ecological risk of these two EDCs remains largely unknown, particular for coastal systems with complex hydrodynamic flows. Based on a validated three-dimensional (3D) multiple-scale hydrodynamic model, a field-based study was conducted to track the two EDCs from potential sources to the only marine reserve in Hong Kong. The two compounds were detected in all seawater, suspended particle, and sediment samples, with higher aqueous concentrations in wet season than in dry season. High concentrations in sediments suggest sediment is a sink, posing an ecological risk to the benthos. The fate and transport of the two EDCs was predicted using a 3D near-field Lagrangian jet model seamlessly coupled with a 3D shallow water circulation model. The results suggested the NP and BPA in the marine reserve cannot be solely attributed to the nearby submarine sewage outfall, but likely concurrently contributed by other sources. This study calls for more effective measures of reducing the use and release of these EDCs, and research to investigate their impacts on the marine benthos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine protected areas (MPA) that are created opportunistically must be evaluated in an ecological context to ensure that conservation goals and societal expectations are achievable. This study used acoustic telemetry to investigate movements of reef fish relative to the boundary of the Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument (VICRNM) in Coral Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands. Although created to enhance ecosystem protection, VICRNM boundaries were established purely on the basis of adjacency to public versus privately owned lands. Transmitters were implanted into a diversity of reef fish species representative of the local community whose movements were logged for one year on an array of acoustic-receivers that were positioned within, outside, and along the MPA boundary. Results indicate that the boundary has coincidentally aligned with a deep sandy area that does not cross through continuous reef or mangrove habitat. This acted as a natural barrier to movements of species such as Lutjanus griseus, Epinephelus guttatus , Cephalopholus cruentatus , Holocentrus rufus , and Sparisoma aurofrenatum . Other species were more mobile and were routinely detected outside VICRNM, especially at night, such as L. synagris, Haemulon plumierii, and H. sciurus. In addition to fish movements in relation to the VICRNM boundary, network analysis revealed several hotspots of concentrated fish activity including a reef promontory and bay mouths. Investment in enforcement of existing regulations to protect fish is warranted to realize the full potential of this MPA. Using these types of data, management actions in this and other MPAs can be focused on those species and locations that would experience the greatest benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring provides important feedback on how social and environmental systems are tracking and whether or not human activities, including management activities, are having an impact. This paper describes an approach applied to develop an integrated monitoring framework to inform adaptive management of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, a complex, multi-jurisdictional, multi-sectoral marine system of international importance. It identifies the gaps and opportunities to integrate the existing long-term, short-term and compliance-related monitoring and reporting initiatives to provide the information for more effective and efficient (adaptive) management of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. And as importantly it aligns expectations among different agencies about how monitoring will inform management. Fifty two high priority values, processes and pressures for management were identified along with 65 existing monitoring programs. Developing the monitoring framework was useful in several ways. First it brought together scientists, policy-makers, managers, and other interested stakeholders with different agendas, philosophies and incentives and established a common purpose, lexicon and language for an integrated monitoring program. Second, it highlighted the importance and usefulness of qualitative conceptual models as a framework for focused discussion around a set of hypotheses with relevance for management. Third, the process started an important conversation about defining and setting a realistic number of monitoring priorities for management. Finally, it has provided direction for how to build on existing initiatives to develop an integrated monitoring program for a globally significant world heritage area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of marine protected areas can be an effective way to simultaneously achieve both conservation and fisheries management objectives. The creation of marine protected areas, in addition to many benefits, also entails several costs, including the need for financing to maintain adequate surveillance and conservation. The recent economic crisis significantly lowered budgets for the maintenance of Spanish Marine Protected Areas, that may have had serious consequences for the marine resources sustainability. In this study we evaluated the indirect impact of the 2008 economic crisis on the conservation of fish stocks in Marine Protected Areas. We compared the number of species, abundance and biomass levels of the ichthyofauna, and abundance and biomass of selected species in two marine reserves (Cabo de San Antonio and Tabarca Island) with control areas, two years before (2008 and 2010) and two years after (2014 and 2015) the budget cut. Results in San Antonio revealed a decrease in total abundance, total biomass and number of species after the crisis, which translates into a decrease in the reserve effect. While in Tabarca no reduction has been observed in these variables, so the reserve effect was maintained after the crisis. We have found that of the 18 species analyzed, in San Antonio the abundance and biomass of 8 and 6 species respectively have decreased after the crisis, while in Tabarca the abundance and biomass of 6 and 8 species respectively have decreased after the crisis. Therefore, surveillance in marine reserves is necessary for the conservation of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), if well designed and managed, can produce conservation benefits to fish assemblages within no-take zones and fishery benefits in neighboring areas through ‘spillover’. However, although plenty of studies have provided evidence of the benefits produced within MPA boundaries, overall benefits to local fisheries, especially via spillover, seem to be still unclear. Because of the lost fishing grounds following an MPA establishment, local fishermen usually oppose MPAs. There is, therefore, the urgent need for a better understanding of the mechanism(s) through which MPAs can export fishable fish biomass towards adjacent fished areas, a process that could counterbalance the loss of fishing grounds. Here we review the literature on spillover for refining the terminology, detailing the underlying mechanisms and identifying both the existing and needed methodological approaches to measure spillover. Operationally, two types of spillover should be considered: ecological spillover (i.e. the net export of juvenile, subadult and adult biomass from MPAs outwards driven by density-dependent processes) and the fishery spillover (i.e. the proportion of this biomass that can be fished, taking into account regulations and accessibility). Underwater visual census and tagging/tracking may allow getting evidence of ecological spillover, while experimental catch data are essential to assess and monitor fishery spillover, which is the main component of MPAs that can provide direct benefit to local fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management efforts for improving the sustainability of the Caribbean spiny lobster ( Panulirus argus ) fishery require knowledge of population connectivity. The aim of this study is to investigate population connectivity of P. argus at two levels: (1) spatially between two marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Caribbean coast of Mexico, and (2) temporally within MPAs; by genotyping discrete size classes lobsters using microsatellite markers. No evidence of population differentiation between lobster populations from Banco Chinchorro and Sian Ka’an MPAs was found ( P = 0.139). In contrast significant levels of population differentiation among discrete size classes of lobsters was found ( F ST = 0.0054; P = 0.0052). Temporal variation among the genotypes of new larval recruits may explain these results. Future research will be required to directly test the genotypes of new larval recruits in Banco Chinchorro and Sian Ka’an MPAs to confirm this hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How social networks support or constrain the transition to co-management of small-scale fisheries and marine reserves is poorly understood. In this paper, we undertake a comparative analysis of the social network structures associated with the transition to co-management in three Jamaican marine reserves. Data from quantitative social relational surveys ( n = 380) are integrated with data from semi-structured interviews ( n = 63) and focus groups ( n = 10) to assess how patterns of relational ties and interactions between and among fishermen and other local level actors (e.g., managers, wardens, NGO staff) support and constrain the transition to co-management. Our research suggests that the transitions to co-management were supported by a combination of three network structure and relational attributes: (i) the presence and position of institutional entrepreneurs; (ii) a dense central core of network actors; and (iii) the prevalence of horizontal ties and vertical linkages held by the community-based organizations formally responsible for the management of the marine reserves. Our findings also show that overall low network cohesion in the three reserves and limited social influence among the wardens may be problematic for sustained collective action that extends beyond the core set of network actors. These findings suggest the importance of strategies to enhance collective action, specifically through attention to the attributes of the corresponding social networks, as a means to contribute to successful transitions to co-management of marine reserves and small-scale fisheries. Our results provide more precise guidance, through social network analysis, on where in the respective networks social capital and leadership may require support or enhancement, and thus on how to target interventions for greatest effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measuring the ‘level of compliance’ has emerged as a key performance indicator for MPA success internationally. Accurate interpretation of quantitative and qualitative compliance data is critical for determining which compliance activities contribute to specific management outcomes. To demonstrate the value of enforcement data in effective MPA management, more than 5000 enforcement actions from 2007 to 2013 from five New South Wales (NSW) Marine Parks were analysed. Specifically, it was tested whether through time: (i) the number of enforcement actions standardised by surveillance effort declined-indicating that ‘general deterrence’ was being achieved; (ii) the number of repeat offenders decreased-indicating that ‘specific deterrence’ was being achieved; (iii) the number of ‘local community’ enforcement actions standardised by surveillance effort declined-indicating growing support for marine parks was being achieved at the community level; and (iv) the percentage of young offenders (<25 yr) had declined-indicating that education programs targeting young adults were successful. Results indicated that general deterrence was not being achieved, with offence rates being relatively stable between years. In contrast, compliance measures were achieving individual deterrence, with the percentage of repeat offenders being very low (0.13–0.83%). Although compliance strategies may be making some progress in improving local compliance in some marine parks, the overall offence rate of local communities was concerning. The data suggested that there were major differences in compliance rates among age groups of offenders over time, although the percentage of young offenders declined over time in three marine parks. Over the six-year data collection period, there was no discernable improvement in compliance rates in most NSW Marine Parks. Overall, the significant value of collecting and analysing information on enforcement activities for MPAs was demonstrated, an often neglected aspect of their management world-wide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ) was monitored with echolocation loggers (T-POD) for 12 months in seven Spanish Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas (MPA). Differences and particularities in dolphin seasonal occurrence and habitat use in each MPA are discussed. While bottlenose dolphins were detected year round and at all hours of the day in most of these MPAs, there was a clear preference for the winter period and the night time. At least two of these MPAs provided a more suitable foraging habitat than their surrounding environments. This monitoring method was precise enough to describe the sensitivity of bottlenose dolphins to human activities in and around MPAs. Anthropogenic activities considered in this study included fish farming, presence of commercial trawling, artisanal set nets, and recreational activities (i.e. SCUBA diving and anchoring vessels). MPAs with fish farms or nearby fish trawling activity yielded highest levels of dolphin presence due to an increase in the concentration of prey resources. Diel patterns in dolphin presence were presumably affected by set netting, where dolphins predated on net catches but avoided encounters with fishermen. An inverse relationship between dolphin presence and average intensity of recreational activities was found. A preference for months and times of day of low intensity of recreational activity suggests that human presence in these MPAs might displace bottlenose dolphins. The cost-effective monitoring method presented in this study could help developing required monitoring programs in Spanish Mediterranean protected waters under the European Union Habitats Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine reserves are becoming widely implemented along with conventional fisheries controls as integrated approaches to fisheries management. The restricted spatial distribution of fishing effort, relative to the spatial distribution of fish stocks that may be partially protected by marine reserves, often necessitates spatial considerations in the design of monitoring and stock assessment. Simulation modeling was used to evaluate whether a mark-recovery design could be used to accurately estimate fishing mortality rates without information about movement rates being available to the assessment procedure. A spatially-explicit individual-based simulation was developed with environmental characteristics of Glover's Reef Marine Reserve, Belize and with biological characteristics of a fished population of Caribbean spiny lobster ( Panulirus argus ). Accuracy of fishing mortality estimates depended on whether these estimates were calculated for the fished area only or for the entire stock. Stock-wide fishing mortality estimates could usually be obtained that were robust to uncertainty about dispersive movement. We discuss results in the context of managing fisheries based on the status of fished areas alone or on the entire stock and discuss the necessity for information about fish movement for accurate assessment of stocks managed using marine reserves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonylphenols (NPs) and bisphenol A (BPA) are the most common endocrine disruptors detected in the coastal waters of Hong Kong. The Cape D’Aguilar Marine Reserve (CAMR), the only marine reserve in Hong Kong is close to urbanized areas, thus the resident marine organisms are inevitably influenced by partially treated wastewater from adjacent sewage treatment plants (STPs). Elevated levels of NPs and BPA were detected in all seawater, sediment and biota samples collected from the CAMR. Estrogenic activities of seawater from the CAMR, and sludge and sewage from a nearby STP were assessed using yeast estrogen screen assay. We found aromatase, estrogen receptor and vitellogenin genes in the marine medaka fish Oryzias melastigma were significantly up-regulated after exposure to the reserve’s seawater. According to a tissue-residue-based probabilistic risk assessment, the marine species living in the CAMR are having 35% and 21% of chance to be at risk due to exposure to NPs and BPA, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offshore islands are often preferentially selected for marine sanctuaries ( no take areas) over inshore reefs on populated coasts because they support relatively unique marine communities and critical habitat for protected marine wildlife and are often less accessible to people. To evaluate whether marine sanctuaries around an offshore island with a large fur seal colony performed differently to inshore areas, we compared fish assemblages at 36 reef sites within marine sanctuaries and fished areas around an offshore Island and within inshore areas of the Batemans Marine Park in temperate southeastern Australia. In each site, we quantified fish assemblage structure using 3–4 replicate baited remote underwater video deployments. We also evaluated the role of fur seal activity, sea surface temperature and wave exposure in structuring fish assemblages on reefs inside and outside marine sanctuaries. Of these variables, only fur seal activity on shallow island reefs (∼10 m deep) was significantly related to fish assemblage structure with a negative relationship to fish richness and abundance. The fish assemblages in marine sanctuaries differed significantly from fished areas on deep reefs around Montague Island (30–40 m deep) and on shallow inshore reefs (∼10 m deep), with 119% and 45% more fish and 49% and 19% more species of fishes in marine sanctuaries in the two areas, respectively. There were also significantly more kyphosids, labrids, southern maori wrasse ( Ophthalmolepis lineolatus ) and silver sweep ( Scorpis lineolata ) in marine sanctuaries than in fished areas on deep reefs around Montague Island. Although there was, on average, 34% more fish on shallow reefs inside than outside marine sanctuaries around Montague Island, there were no significant differences in fish assemblages when the influence of fur seal activity was taken into account. Given that fur seals numbers are increasing and they eat reef fishes, marine sanctuaries on shallow reefs adjacent to seal colonies may not achieve some of the positive benefits associated with increased fish biomass (e.g. increased kelp cover) to same level as sanctuaries more distantly located. We suggest, therefore, that careful consideration of long-term conservation goals (e.g. conservation of fur seals or local enhancement of fish diversity) is needed before preferentially locating marine sanctuaries adjacent to fur seal colonies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the effects of marine reserve protection on fish and benthic communities at Glover's Reef Marine Reserve, Belize, using a broad suite of indicators. Responses of fish species to protection were highly variable, and therefore indicators calculated at the fish community level were ambiguous. According to 11 of 13 community-level indicators, sites located within the no-take zone fared more poorly over time than did sites in the surrounding fished area. However, we were able to detect positive reserve effects using a newly-proposed pair of indicators, which take into account spatial distribution of different species at the time of the no-take zone implementation. These indicators showed that species subject to low fishing pressure increased inside and to a lesser extent outside the no-take zone, while species subject to higher levels of fishing pressure increased in the no-take zone but decreased in the fished area. Indicators of changes in the fish community were not correlated with those related to the benthic community, and we suggest that indicators be carefully selected to match management objectives. We also find that positive reserve effects based on present-day data (e.g., higher abundances of commercial species inside the no-take zone versus outside) were often not associated with increases in fish densities over time, and suggest caution when interpreting abundance patterns in the absence of historical data. We recommend that similar studies be carried out at a variety of reserve sites, to test our proposed indicators and increase our understanding of community-level responses to fisheries closures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of a spatial area closure on pelagic fish assemblages within the Houtman Abrolhos Islands were assessed using mid-water pelagic stereo-BRUVs. The spatial area closure within the Easter group of the Houtman Abrolhos Islands was found to have no significant effect on the species composition and relative abundance of pelagic fish assemblages. The most abundant demersal target species recorded was pink snapper (Chrysophrys auratus) and, individuals measured within the spatial closure were significantly larger than those sampled in the area open to fishing. This spatial area closure is of moderate size (22.3 km²), but the spatial management of highly mobile species may require larger area closures than those for reef-associated species. The monitoring of pelagic species both in large and small spatial area closures is required in order to better understand how mobile species respond to this management strategy. Some species were only recorded in relatively low numbers using pelagic stereo-BRUVs. Moreover, some of the highly mobile pelagic fish species, such as tunas, mackerel and some shark species have proven difficult to measure, as these species were observed furthest from the camera systems. While pelagic stereo-BRUVs are an effective fishery-independent approach to monitor spatial fishing closures, improving the power of replicates by pooling individual deployments, and increasing the attraction rate of pelagic fish to the stereo-cameras, will enhance their performance in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine protected areas such as full no-take marine reserves (MRs) supply numerous ecosystem goods and services, and also deliver conservation and biodiversity benefits, but there are few studies reporting how much the general public values MRs and what factors influence their Willingness to Pay (WTP) for MR management and protection. This study uses Contingent Valuation Method to estimate the WTP of nearby residents for management of two New Zealand MRs (Taputeranga and Kapiti). A total of 360 questionaries were completed (TMR = 262 and KMR = 98). Respondents were asked if they would contribute an annual levy to fund MR management. The annual median WTP values per household were NZ $22.50 (TMR) and NZ $16.88 (KMR). This analysis showed that respondent with children (TMR) or belonging to a group (KMR) are more willing to contribute to the levy. Age is an explanatory variable for WTP amount at both MRs. Respondents ranked seven options for how funds provided via the annual levy should be used; At both MRs more surveillance to reduce fishing at MRs boundaries, and clearing the beach of litter, were ranked highest. This article provides clear evidence that respondent households attach significant value to MRs located on the coast of their city. Findings of this research may be used by the New Zealand Department of Conservation to help prioritise its spending for the maintenance of existing MRs. • Marine Protected Areas, including Marine Reserves (MRs), are underfunded globally and in New Zealand. • Use and non-use values of MRs are unknown in New Zealand. • Contingent Valuation was used to estimate indirect use and non-use values of MRs. • Social factors were identified that influence willingness to contribute to MR management. • Recommendations can be made based on willingness to contribute to help prioritise MR funding and policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We determined the concentrations of 12 endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in sewage effluents collected from three different sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Hong Kong, and found 4-nonylphenol (NP) and bisphenol A (BPA) were the most abundant EDCs. Effluent concentrations of NP and BPA were higher in dry season than in wet season, but opposite seasonal changes of NP were observed in receiving waters, probably due to the surface runoff. The two secondary STPs showed higher removal efficiency for these compounds than the preliminary STP, while having higher removal efficiency in wet season. Therefore, it is necessary to upgrade the preliminary STP and improve the EDC removal efficiency in dry season. Seawaters from the Cape D' Aguilar Marine Reserve adjacent to these STPs also exhibited elevated NP levels with a hazard quotient >1. Furthermore, diluted effluents from the STPs elicited significant transcriptional responses of EDC-related genes in the marine medaka fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On coral reefs, diver-surveys of shark abundance indicate that populations are severely depleted, even in no-take zones with low-levels of illegal fishing, but are protected by strictly enforced no-entry zones. These findings have been questioned, on the grounds that diver-surveys overestimate shark abundance. We evaluated whether divers encounter sharks at higher rates when they first enter the water, and whether these effects vary among reefs that are subject to different levels of human interaction due to management zoning. We also examined the consistency of abundance estimates derived from multiple survey methods. For timed-swim, towed-diver, and baited-remote-underwater-video (BRUV) surveys, encounter rates were constant over time. For audible-stationary-count (ASC) surveys, encounter rates were elevated initially, then decreased rapidly, but the extent of upward bias did not differ between management zones. Timed-swim, BRUV, and ASC surveys produced comparable estimates of shark density, however, towed-diver-surveys produced significantly lower estimates of shark density. Our findings provide no evidence for biases in diver-surveys: encounter rates with sharks were not elevated when divers first entered the water; behavioural responses of sharks were consistent across management zones; and diver-surveys yielded abundance estimates comparable to other stationary methods. Previous studies using underwater counts have concluded that sharks are vulnerable to low levels of illegal fishing in no-take management zones, and that additional measures are needed to protect species, which, like sharks, have demographic characteristics that make them vulnerable to low levels of exploitation. Our results support the robustness of the abundance estimates on which those conclusions have been based. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] We examined functional diversity and redundancy in Caribbean fish assemblages. [•] Fishing reduces functional redundancy and removes whole functional groups. [•] Fish biomass and fisheries catches are exponentially related to diversity. [•] Results indicate high vulnerability of functions and services to diversity loss. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] We examined the integration of connectivity and climate change in marine planning. [•] Connectivity and climate change have rarely been supported by ecological evidence. [•] We found a wide range of joint approaches for connectivity and climate change. [•] We present and discuss a framework to help formulate conservation objectives. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Periodically-harvested reef closures are key management measures for fisheries co-management. [•] Annual yield and effort is low to moderate from periodic harvests compared to open-reef harvests. [•] Intensity of periodic harvests can be elevated and intense. [•] Opening and closure cycles applied are diverse, but generally socially driven. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] First report of PFOS/A in sediments from Tuscan Archipelago National Park. [•] Distribution of PFOS varied whereas levels of PFOA were below detection limit. [•] The paper provides the baseline of PFOS/A levels for future studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the Pacific, coastal communities have compensated for chronically low capacity of governments to manage fisheries by implementing local regulations in their marine tenure areas. In order to investigate the performance of community-based fisheries management (CBFM) in Vanuatu, trajectories and factors of change in CBFM systems since the 1990s were analysed. Focal group interviews were conducted in seven villages on Efaté island in 2011 and supplemented by a review of supporting literature. Results reveal the increasing and excessive reliance of CBFM systems on external agencies that promoted overly complex management plans. Examination of trends in CBFM systems shows that community and national fishing rules that were highly acceptable by local societies were more likely to be enforced in the long run. In particular, the establishment of marine reserves was the most widespread and best enforced community rule for the purposes of conservation, ecotourism, and/or fisheries. Overall, the results challenge the current effectiveness of CBFM in achieving sustainability of reef fisheries in Vanuatu, and highlight the over-reliance on small marine reserves as a management tool. Community initiatives must be strengthened by new specific national regulations governing subsistence and commercial reef fisheries as part of a multi-scale co-management approach. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Subtropical reefs have suffered from increasing threats and impacts mainly from anthropogenic activities. These reefs also have socioeconomic relevance being in many locations an important income source through recreational activities. This study aimed to assess the potentially damaging behaviors of scuba divers on benthic reefs organisms in the first year of a new Brazilian diving destination, the Alcatrazes Archipelago Wildlife Refuge. We also assessed diver satisfaction to verify the effects of management measures on diver experience. Management measures were implemented through a best practices program aiming to improve low-impact diver behavior. Scuba divers caused the lowest contact rate with the reef described in the literature, maintaining low rates of potentially damaging behaviors over the year. Overall, each diver made an average of 0.63 contacts with the reef and 0.06 with the reef biota per 45 min of dive. Most of the contacts were unintentional and occurred in the first 10 min of the dive. The overall satisfaction of divers was high in all seasons. However, regarding specific attributes, experienced divers were more sensitive to increased underwater supervision. Our results highlight the effectiveness of continued initiatives like best practices program to improve low-impact diver behavior. Visitation monitoring programs are essential to understand the behavior of scuba divers and how the restrictions may affect diver enjoyment in reef environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The positive effects of reduced fishing pressure in marine protected areas (MPAs) are now well documented globally. Yet, evidence of MPA benefits from long-term replicated before-after control-impact (BACI) studies and their usefulness in protecting target species are still rare, especially in northern temperate areas. Scientific rigor in the monitoring of MPAs is considered important for obtaining trust and compliance and can increase interest and enthusiasm for the benefits of marine conservation. Off the coast of southern Norway, a MPA implementation process started up in 2002. Based on comprehensive consultations with local fishers and managers, four experimental lobster reserves were appointed in 2004. Two years later (2006), the reserves came into effect as the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries implemented regulations as a by-law of the Saltwater Fisheries Act that effectively banned all fixed gear. Long-term monitoring of the MPAs and adjacent control areas has enabled a rigorous scientific evaluation of the effects of these MPAs on lobster populations, including effects on density, growth, demography, behavior, and phenotypic diversity. As protection effects started to manifest, the lobster reserves attracted high public attention and were soon considered a credible supplement to traditional fisheries management. In the period from 2002 to 2021, more than 50 lobster reserves have been implemented in Norway. Here, we review the experiences since the lobster reserves were designated, implemented, and embraced by local communities in Norway, and over two decades have become an important tool for fishery management. Thoughts on the future of MPAs along the coast of Norway are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Marine reserves have been widely implemented as tools for biodiversity conservation and fisheries management, amongst other goals. A large number of empirical studies have focused on their effects on reef fish populations. Yet, few studies have looked at their effectiveness on semelparous species such as cephalopods, in spite of their commercial importance in many coastal regions across the globe. In this study we combine behavioural (biotelemetry) and demographic (experimental fishing) data to understand the effects of the Luiz Saldanha Marine Park (LSMP) on local populations of cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis. We used a beyond-BACI design to analyze the possible effect of the implementation of a no-take area on the abundance and biomass of this species and acoustic telemetry data to assess its site fidelity and movements within the study area. Results indicate that there was no detectable effect of the implementation of the no-take area on the abundance or biomass of cuttlefish. We found evidence that acoustically tagged adult cuttlefish leave the reserve a few days or weeks after tagging. The fact that cuttlefish have low site fidelity inside the reserve and large movements across and beyond the study area explains why there is no increase in the population inside the MPA. These results suggest that small coastal marine reserves such as the LSMP are not effective in providing long term protection to cuttlefish populations and, probably, those of other short-lived, highly mobile cephalopods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Densities of targeted fishes were higher at sites with recruitment hotspots. [•] Population recovery was enhanced in reserves that contained recruitment hotspots. [•] Reserves primarily protected fishes above the minimum legal size. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A key element of an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management is the use of marine protected areas (MPAs) as part of a holistic management strategy. This study, based in the South-West Indian Ocean, evaluated the benefits of area closure to vulnerable fishery species, which have been depleted by overfishing. A controlled fishing survey was conducted seasonally between 2006 and 2011 in the Pondoland MPA on the East Coast of South Africa. The MPA includes a 400km2 no-take zone where all forms of vessel-based exploitation are prohibited. Three endemic sparids (slinger Chrysoblephus puniceus, Scotsman Polysteganus praeorbitalis and poenskop Cymatoceps nasutus) and one widely distributed serranid (yellowbelly rockcod Epinephelus marginatus) were chosen as study species. These are slow growing, high trophic level species, which are prominent on rocky reefs in the Pondoland area and have been depleted by overfishing. Relative abundance was estimated using catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) and length frequency distributions were used to determine the size structure of fish populations. The relative abundance and the mean length of all four species were significantly greater in the no-take zone. Over the 5-year study period, CPUE of C. puniceus and C. nasutus in the no-take zone increased as did the mean length of all species, except C. nasutus. This study presents clear evidence that the Pondoland MPA no-take zone is providing insurance against the depletion of vulnerable fishery stocks in fished areas, thereby establishing the basis for the enhancement of adjacent fisheries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Dry Tortugas Research Natural Area (RNA), a 158-km2 no-fishing, no-anchor marine reserve, was implemented in 2007 in Dry Tortugas National Park (DRTO), Florida to minimize the effects of human activities on marine resources and to enhance the productivity and sustainability of fish populations. The process of establishing the RNA resulted in the development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the State of Florida and the National Park Service (NPS). The MOU constitutes a roadmap for the roles and responsibilities for a state and federal partnership, collaborative preparation of a research and monitoring plan, and reporting on the progress implementing the plan and preliminary findings. A science plan was developed in conjunction with marine and fisheries scientists from multiple agencies and non-government organizations to: (1) quantify changes in the abundance and size-structure of exploited fish species within the RNA relative to adjacent areas; (2) monitor the immigration and emigration of targeted species; (3) monitor changes in species composition and catch rates of exploited fish species throughout the surrounding region; (4) evaluate the effects on marine benthic biological communities; (5) assess reproductive potential of exploited fish species by evaluating egg production and larval dispersal; and (6) implement social science studies to evaluate visitor experiences. For each topic, performance measures, essential and supplemental activities, and general study recommendations were developed. The plan supported interagency marine resource managers in the structured implementation of a science program by communicating to the public a suite of performance measures and essential and supplementary studies designed to document changes in fisheries resources. Development of collaborative marine science programs are useful for leveraging resources, engaging the public and agency decision-makers, and long-term planning to ensure that research and monitoring data are available for sustainable adaptive management of marine reserves. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Marine protected areas (MPAs) can benefit fisheries through export of pelagic eggs and larvae and the net emigration of adults and juveniles (spillover). Spillover was investigated for a marine protected area on the north shore of Oahu, Hawai‘i utilizing a seascape approach. This study incorporated habitat variables and underwater visual surveys of fishes and benthos measured at two distinct scales (125m2 and 1000m2) inside and outside the protected area at varying distance from the boundary. The relationship between fish biomass from fine-scale surveys and key habitat variables was found to account for a large portion of the variability for both resource (targeted) fish species (15%) and non-resource fish (28%). The remaining variation in resource fish biomass was significantly correlated with distance from the MPA boundary showing a decreasing gradient from inside to outside (r 2 =0.46, p =0.001), indicating fish spillover at a local scale (<1km). In contrast, non-resource fish biomass demonstrated no such relationship (p =0.45). The evidence of spillover based on the fine-scale surveys was corroborated by results from broad-scale surveys, which also showed a significant relationship (r 2 =0.19, p <0.01) between resource fish biomass and distance from the MPA boundary. In addition, observed spatial distribution of fishing effort was consistent with predictions that fishers respond to biomass gradients across protected area boundaries. Fish spillover can help mitigate costs associated with the establishment of marine protected areas in terms of lost fishing area and therefore have a positive effect on the attitudes of fishers toward marine reserves and marine protected areas. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Spatial marine closures are widely employed and advocated for marine resource management and conservation. Temporal, non-permanent, rotational or periodically harvested area closures have been employed across the Indo-Pacific for centuries and are a common measure within contemporary community-based and co-management frameworks. Although prior evidence suggests that periodic closures may confer fisheries benefits for some taxa or in certain conditions, there is little evidence that they are equally effective for the sustainable management of the many types of small-scale fisheries important in the Indo-Pacific. Case studies of periodic closures are reviewed to highlight the variations in target species, harvesting periodicity and fishing pressure that will influence the fisheries management effectiveness of this tool. Fisheries management benefits are observed for short-lived, fast-growing taxa or for a range of taxa in low fishing pressure situations. Stocks declines are observed for long-lived taxa or for a range of taxa if harvesting is intense. It is argued that community-based and co-management policy and action must better account for these factors when promoting and implementing periodic closures for medium- to long-term fisheries management or conservation goals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS) are used for monitoring fish assemblages and assessing management effectiveness in reef environments but are infrequently used in estuaries. A review of the BRUVS literature found that most adopted sampling designs from other studies were rarely designed from pilot studies. This potentially compromises their value for monitoring natural and anthropogenic variation. The aims of this study were: (i) to assess the suitability of BRUVS for sampling fishes in estuarine habitats (seagrass beds and unvegetated sediments) and (ii) to develop an optimal and cost effective sampling methodology for each habitat. Fishes in both habitats were sampled independently using BRUVS with soak times of 30, 60, 90min (n =4). Thirty five species of fishes were recorded including 18 species of economic importance. Mean number of species, mean total Max N and mean Max N of species did not differ among soak times. Precision was generally greater in seagrass and in both habitats it improved with increasing soak time. Bootstrapping revealed that greater improvements in precision occurred from increasing soak time rather than increasing replication. A sampling design with n =5 replicates of 90min soak time was optimal for most variables. This sampling effort is greater than many current applications of BRUVS. The results highlight the importance of pilot studies to optimise sampling methods and develop cost effective and statistically-robust monitoring programs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Industrial fishing can profoundly alter marine environments, and no-take zones are an important tool to achieve sustainable fishing and re-establish ecosystem integrity. However, the potential benefits for vagile species such as top predators are still questioned. The numbers of endangered African penguins Spheniscus demersus have halved since 2004. They depend on small pelagic fish, also targeted by a purse-seine industry in South Africa. We studied penguin foraging behaviour and breeding output at two colonies supporting 60% of the global population in relation to fishing activity by purse-seine vessels. In 2008, both sites were open to fishing, but in 2009 and 2010 waters within 20km of the world’s largest colony were closed to fishing, while waters around the neighbouring colony, 50km away, remained open. Birds’ foraging effort increased with the size of catches around their colonies and decreased with the implementation of a reserve. Total fishing catches in the bay remained constant, but shifted toward the boundaries of the reserve in 2010. While the no-take zone significantly reduced penguin foraging effort, intensified fishing pressure at the reserve boundaries (“fishing the line”) in 2010 limited this benefit. The decrease over time of both adult body mass and chick growth rates from both colonies, suggested that the 20km-closure is too small to reverse penguin population decreases. Therefore, stronger fishery management measures, such as larger no-take zones, buffer zones around reserves, or local reduction of fishing quotas, seem necessary to increase food availability for penguins around their colonies. The collapse of Africa’s only breeding penguin species adds urgency to the wider implementation of such measures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Networks of no-take marine reserves (NTMRs) are widely used for managing marine resources. Because they restrict fishing, managers need to monitor reserves to reassure stakeholders that they are achieving the intended results. In 2004, the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) Marine Park was rezoned and the area of NTMRs was greatly increased. Using manta tow we assessed the effectiveness of the new NTMRs in conserving coral trout (Plectropomus and Variola spp.), the principle targets of the GBR reef line fishery. Over a six year period, we sampled regional groups of matched pairs of similar reefs, ones closed to fishing under the rezoning and ones that remained open. Coral trout populations were significantly higher in NTMRs. While coral trout populations declined on reefs open to fishing, stocks were maintained in NTMRs, highlighting the ongoing benefits of marine reserves. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Collision with ships is a significant cause of mortality among endangered whales. Collision lethality increases with vessel speed and mitigation includes slowing ships in whale dense areas. The 2181km2 Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS) is a site of numerous whale/ship collisions. To understand how speed reduction measures reduce lethal collisions, we used GIS to apply hypothetical speed reductions to observed ship traffic within SBNMS. During 2006, we collected complete AIS data from SBNMS vessel traffic. We created 1.85km2 (N =810) grid cells covering SBNMS and determined each cell’s predicted probability of lethality (PLETH) from the cell’s mean speed and a mortality curve. We calculated average PLETH for the entire sanctuary (SPLETH), and used SPLETH to index status quo risk. We applied speed limits of 16, 14, 12, and 10knots on transits and recalculated SPLETH for each scenario. Our analysis included 2,079,867 AIS points to derive 74,638 cell transits by 502 ships (>295t). Sanctuary mean ship speed, by cell transit, was 13.5knots (SD4.3, range 0.1–42.2). The choice of speed restriction had a major impact on SPLETH: 16knots=−3.7%, 14knots=−11%, 12knots=−29.4%, 10knots=−56.7%. The conservation benefit of speed restrictions is influenced by the status quo speed of ships from which risk must be reduced. As most areas lack such data our results can provide managers with a better understanding of how speed restrictions might reduce risk in their waters. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Systematic approaches to site selection for marine protected areas (MPAs) are often favored over opportunistic approaches as a means to meet conservation objectives efficiently. In this study, we compared analytically the conservation value of these two approaches. We locate this study in Danajon Bank, central Philippines, where many MPAs were established opportunistically based on community preference, with few if any contributions from biophysical data. We began by identifying the biophysical data that would have been available when the first MPA was created in Danajon Bank (1995). We next used these data with the reserve selection software Marxan to identify MPAs that covered the same area as is protected under the current set of MPAs (0.32% of the total study area) and that would protect the greatest number of conservation targets at the lowest cost. We finally compared the conservation value of the current MPAs to the value of those selected by Marxan. Because of the dearth of biophysical data available in 1995 and the small area currently under protection, Marxan identified multiple configurations of MPAs that would protect the same percentage of conservation targets, with little differentiation among sites. Further, we discovered that the costs of obtaining and analyzing these data to be used for conservation planning would have been large relative to resources typically available to conservation planners in developing countries. Finally, we found that the current set of MPAs protected more ecological features than would be expected by chance, although not as many as could be protected using a systematic approach. Our results suggest that an opportunistic approach can be a valuable component of conservation planning, especially when biophysical data are sparse and community acceptance is a critical factor affecting the success of an MPA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The provision of recreational opportunities is one of the important human goals of marine protected areas. However, as levels of recreational use increase, human disturbance is likely to cause significant detrimental effects upon wildlife. Here we evaluate the best managing options to mitigate the impact of sea-based tourism on the foraging activity of an endangered population of European shags, Phalacrocorax aristotelis, in a coastal marine protected area (Cíes islands, north-western Iberia). Boat disturbance elicited a characteristic avoidance behavior that resulted in a substantial reduction in foraging activity as levels of boat use increased. Moreover, boats excluded shags from the best feeding areas, resulting in higher densities of foragers in areas of little boat traffic. We used a behavioral model to explore the effects of managing strategies aimed at reducing the impact of boats on the foraging activity of shags. Our model suggested that in low boat disturbance scenarios limiting the number of boats using the reserve would be a better management option than habitat protection (i.e. the establishment of set-aside areas free of boat traffic). On the contrary, when boat disturbance levels are high the protection of habitat is recommendable, even if spatial variation in habitat quality is unknown or poorly assessed. Our study stresses the point that management strategies to minimize disturbance to foraging seabirds may depend on the spatial overlap between sea-based recreational activities and foraging seabirds and the spatial variation in marine habitat quality for seabirds. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Roving creel surveys of recreational shore fishing were conducted in 2007 in the marine reserve of Cap de Creus (NW Mediterranean) to assess the socioeconomic implications of this leisure activity. Even though an angler spends on average around 600€ per year in fishing supplies and car fuel, the economic impact for the villages belonging to the marine reserve is limited because most (95%) anglers were visitors who were not lodged in any coastal village of the Park and therefore did not spend on local services and accommodation. However, the willingness of more than half of the anglers to pay a fee for fishing in the marine protected area supports the social and economic value of angling in the protected area. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]