Community assemblages of commercially important coral reef fishes inside and outside marine protected areas in the Philippines
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Published source details
Muallil R.N., Deocadez M.R., Martinez R.J.S., Mamauag S.S., Nañola C.L. & Aliño P.M. (2015) Community assemblages of commercially important coral reef fishes inside and outside marine protected areas in the Philippines. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 1, 47-54.
Published source details Muallil R.N., Deocadez M.R., Martinez R.J.S., Mamauag S.S., Nañola C.L. & Aliño P.M. (2015) Community assemblages of commercially important coral reef fishes inside and outside marine protected areas in the Philippines. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 1, 47-54.
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 2012–2013 of 37 coral reef sites with at least one established, locally-managed marine protected area in the Philippine Sea, Philippines (Muallil et al. 2015) found that areas where all fishing was prohibited had greater fish species richness and diversity, fish density and larger fish for five out of seven family groups, compared to nearby fished areas. Overall fish species richness and diversity (data reported as diversity indices) was higher in protected areas (20 species) than fished areas (15 species). Density was higher for five of seven reef fish families (surgeonfishes Acanthuridae: 18 vs 16, parrotfishes Scaridae: 9 vs 6, snappers Lutjanidae: 7 vs 6, groupers Epinephelinae: 3 vs 2, goatfishes Mullidae: 2 vs 1 fish/500 m2) and similar for grunts Haemulidae and emperorfish Lethrinidae (both <1 fish/500m2 in all areas). A greater number of larger (25 cm and above) individuals of five families were found at protected sites compared to fished sites (surgeonfishes: 0.8 vs 0.1, parrotfishes: 1.4 vs 0.4, groupers: 0.4 vs 0.2, goatfishes: 0.2 vs 0.1, grunts: 0.13 vs 0.07 fish/500 m2) and similar for snappers (0.7 vs 0.6 fish/500m2) and emperors (0.0 vs 0.0 fish/500m2). Between 2012–2013, reef fish were surveyed at 37 locations by underwater visual census along 348 belt transects (50 × 10 m). At each location, 8–12 transects were done, half in and half outside (>200 m) protected areas. Species, number, and estimated length was recorded for fish above 5 cm. The marine protected areas were mostly <50 ha, and the years since implementation were not reported.
(Summarised by: Khatija Alliji)
