Conservation benefits of marine reserves for fish populations
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Published source details
Mosquera I., Côté I.M., Jennings S. & Reynolds J.D. (2000) Conservation benefits of marine reserves for fish populations. Animal Conservation, 3, 321-332.
Published source details Mosquera I., Côté I.M., Jennings S. & Reynolds J.D. (2000) Conservation benefits of marine reserves for fish populations. Animal Conservation, 3, 321-332.
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 systematic review in 2000 of 24 studies of marine reserves across the world (Mosquera et al. 2000) found that overall fish abundance was higher, and fish were larger, inside no-take (all fishing types prohibited) reserves with 1 to 26 years of protection, compared to fished areas outside reserves. Overall fish numbers were on average 3.7 times higher inside non-fished reserves than outside. Abundances of fishery targeted species were higher in non-fished reserves than fished areas outside, but non-target species abundance was similar (data reported as statistical model results). Across all species, the effect of protection status (non-fished versus fished) on abundance depended on fish body size; the largest species were over 300% more abundant inside reserves and the effect increased with body size (data reported as model results). The systematic review used data from 24 studies to assess the effects of banning fishing in marine reserves. Twelve of the studies met the criteria for quantitative meta-analysis, the other 12 studies were not included in the meta-analysis.
(Summarised by: Leo Clarke)
