Coral reef fish communities in management systems with unregulated fishing and small fisheries closures compared with lightly fished reefs – Maldives vs. Kenya
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Published source details
McClanahan T.R. (2011) Coral reef fish communities in management systems with unregulated fishing and small fisheries closures compared with lightly fished reefs – Maldives vs. Kenya. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 21, 186-198
Published source details McClanahan T.R. (2011) Coral reef fish communities in management systems with unregulated fishing and small fisheries closures compared with lightly fished reefs – Maldives vs. Kenya. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 21, 186-198
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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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 types of fishing in a marine protected area
A replicated, site comparison study in 2005–2006 of 20 reef sites in the Indian Ocean off Kenya and the Maldives (McClanahan 2011) found that prohibiting all fishing in protected areas (Kenya) for over 25 years resulted in higher total fish biomass, density and species richness compared to heavily fished unprotected areas, but not to partially fished management areas (Maldives). Total biomass in the fully closed areas (1,180 kg/ha) was similar to partially fished areas (1,463 kg/ha), and both were higher than fished areas (110 kg/ha). For nine fish family groups, total density differed between all three areas and was highest at partially fished areas (closed: 463, partly fished: 602, fished: 202 fish/500m2); and species richness was similar at closed and partly fished areas and higher than fished (closed: 45, partly fished: 45, fished: 26 species/500m2). In addition, the effects of different management regimes varied for individual family groups (see paper for data). Fish were surveyed by underwater visual census in four well enforced marine protected areas in Kenya (total 54 km2, established in the 1970s, all fishing prohibited) and four nearby heavily fished areas; and in the Maldives, at 12 sites in a large, lightly managed fished area (650 km2, selectively fished, non-enforced closure system). Sampling took place in February to May 2006 (Kenya) and June 2005 (Maldives). Fish biomass for 23 families was sampled by one or two separate passes along four 5 × 100 m belt transects/site and data for nine selected families by four passes along the 500m2 transects.
(Summarised by: Khatija Alliji)
