Direct evidence of limited dispersal of the reef fish Parapercis colias (Pinguipedidae) within a marine reserve and adjacent fished areas

Published source details Cole R.G., Villouta E. & Davidson R.J. (2000) Direct evidence of limited dispersal of the reef fish Parapercis colias (Pinguipedidae) within a marine reserve and adjacent fished areas. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 10, 421-436.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Cease or prohibit all types of fishing in a marine protected area Action Link

Cease or prohibit all types of fishing in a marine protected area

A site comparison study in 1997–1998 of an area of rock and cobble in the Tasman Sea, South Pacific Ocean, off New Zealand (Cole et al. 2000) found that prohibiting all fishing activity for 4 years in a marine reserve did not result in higher overall abundances of blue cod Parapercis colias compared to adjacent fished areas outside, but blue cod inside the reserve were larger. Numbers of blue cod were similar inside the reserve (44 fish/transect) to fished areas (41 fish/transect) at all depths except 20 m. However, the lengths of blue cod inside the reserve were on average 4 cm longer (20–40 cm) than those found in commercially fished areas (21–25 cm). Blue cod were surveyed five times between January 1998 and 1999, at two sites inside the Long Island–Kokomohua Marine Reserve, Marlborough Sounds (619 ha, established as no-take in 1993) and two adjacent (2–4 km apart) fished sites where commercial fishing for blue cod is prohibited but recreational fishing effort can be high. At each site, numbers of cod were recorded during four minute–long diver visual censuses at depths of 5, 8, 11, 14, 17 and 20 m. At each depth, lengths of blue cod were estimated in two-minute time intervals, along a 2 m wide transect.

(Summarised by: Khatija Alliji)