Size and age are important factors for marine sanctuaries: evidence from a decade of systematic sampling in a subtropical marine park
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Published source details
Malcolm H.A., Jordán A., Creese R.G. & Knott N.A. (2016) Size and age are important factors for marine sanctuaries: evidence from a decade of systematic sampling in a subtropical marine park. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 26, 1090-1106.
Published source details Malcolm H.A., Jordán A., Creese R.G. & Knott N.A. (2016) Size and age are important factors for marine sanctuaries: evidence from a decade of systematic sampling in a subtropical marine park. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 26, 1090-1106.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Cease or prohibit all commercial fishing Action Link |
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Cease or prohibit all types of fishing in a marine protected area Action Link |
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Cease or prohibit all commercial fishing
A replicated, site comparison study in 2002–2012 of eight rocky coral reef sites in the Tasman Sea, New South Wales, Australia (Malcolm et al. 2016) found that in areas of a marine park where commercial trapping was prohibited, there was a higher abundance of some fish species or groups over a 10 year period following implementation, compared to park areas open to commercial trapping. Abundances varied between years, but overall average abundances of two of 10 targeted fish species/groups and one of two non-targeted groups were higher at non-commercially fished areas than commercially fished areas, one targeted species was lower and the rest were similar between areas (data reported as statistical results and presented graphically for some species only). Fish assemblages were monitored annually in 2002–2007, 2009 and 2012, at eight sites, in the Solitary Islands Marine Park: two sites in each of two management areas where recreational fishing but no commercial fish trapping was permitted (>200 ha); and four sites in areas where commercial trapping and recreational fishing were permitted. The park was originally designated in 1991 and rezoned in 2002. At each site, fish were surveyed by six underwater visual transects (125 m2) and three replicate five-minute timed-swim counts (250 m2).
(Summarised by: Leo Clarke)
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Cease or prohibit all types of fishing in a marine protected area
A replicated, site comparison study in 2002–2012 of sixteen rocky coral reef sites in a marine park in the Tasman Sea, New South Wales, Australia (Malcolm et al. 2016) found that banning all fishing in areas of the park resulted in increased fish abundances of six of 12 fishery targeted and non-targeted species or groups compared to areas where some fishing types are allowed, and the effect varied with size and age (small, 10–20 years and large, 0–10 years) of the area protected. Across all years, average abundances of five of ten targeted and one of two non-targeted fish species/groups (see paper for details) were higher at a non-fished area than at fished areas, and no effect of management type was found for the other six (data reported as statistical results and presented graphically for some species only). In addition, the effect of management type was generally higher for large no-fishing areas, and four of the six fish groups that differed with management type were more abundant in larger no-fishing areas within a few years of establishment compared with small no-fishing and fished areas (data reported as statistical results). Fish assemblages were surveyed annually in 2002–2007, 2009 and 2012 at 16 sites, 9–16 m depth, in the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Four sampling sites were in each of four management areas (two no-take and two fished): small, no-fishing (<15 ha, established 1991), large, no fishing (>100 ha, established 2002), recreational fishing but no commercial fish trapping (>200 ha), and recreational fishing and commercial fish trapping (>200 ha per site). At each site, fish were recorded along six underwater visual transects (125 m2) and during three replicate five-minute timed-swim counts (250 m2).
(Summarised by: Leo Clarke)
