Quantifying the degree of protection afforded by a no-take marine reserve on an exploited shark

Published source details da Silva C., Kerwath S., Attwood C., Thorstad E., Cowley P., Økland F., Wilke C. & Næsje T. (2013) Quantifying the degree of protection afforded by a no-take marine reserve on an exploited shark. African Journal of Marine Science, 35, 57-66.
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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 2006–2008 of a shallow, sandy lagoon in a bay in the South Atlantic Ocean, off South Africa (da Silva et al. 2013) found that common smoothhound sharks Mustelus mustelus spent more time in a no-take marine protected area than outside (and thus more protected from fishing), and movements between the areas differed with season. Overall, sharks spent an average of 74–80% of hours inside the no-take area over a two-year period. The highest numbers of detections inside the no-take area occurred in summer and the lowest in winter (data presented graphically and as statistical results). In November 2006, a total of 24 smoothhound sharks were tagged with acoustic transmitters and released in the Langebaan Lagoon Marine Protected Area (34 km², year implemented not reported), a no-take area in the innermost part of a coastal embayment (Saldanha Bay). The movements of sixteen sharks (9 females, 7 males) detected for at least one year, and of nine detected for two years, were analysed. Fish movement detection data was recorded by 28 acoustic receivers positioned at four sites in no-take and fished areas.

(Summarised by: Khatija Alliji)