Effects of a marine reserve and habitat characteristics in the abundance and demography of the red hind grouper, Epinephelus guttatus
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Published source details
Lopez-Rivera M.D.M. & Sabat A.M. (2009) Effects of a marine reserve and habitat characteristics in the abundance and demography of the red hind grouper, Epinephelus guttatus. Caribbean Journal of Science, 45, 348-362.
Published source details Lopez-Rivera M.D.M. & Sabat A.M. (2009) Effects of a marine reserve and habitat characteristics in the abundance and demography of the red hind grouper, Epinephelus guttatus. Caribbean Journal of Science, 45, 348-362.
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 site comparison study in 2002–2003 at six reef sites in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean, off Puerto Rico (Lopez-Rivera & Sabat 2009) found that prohibiting all fishing in a marine protected area for three years resulted in similar abundances of red hind grouper Epinephelus guttatus and its associated prey fish species, and larger red hind size but similar growth and survival, compared to adjacent fished areas. There were no differences in red hind density (unfished: 9–23, fished: 6–26 fish/ha), growth rate or average annual survival rate between management types, but average total length was larger inside the unfished area (data reported as statistical results). Average abundances of three fish species and six family groups that are prey for red hind were similar between areas (unfished: 0–44, fished: 0–46 fish/no. census; see paper for species individual data). Red hinds and the prey fish community were surveyed at three sites inside the Luis Peña Channel Marine Fishery Reserve (4.75 km2, established as no-take in September 1999) and three sites in adjacent fished areas outside. Fish abundance was recorded for all species by 16–23 underwater stationary visual censuses per site (sampling times were not reported). Red hind size and survival data was recorded for a total of 75 individuals from October 2002 to December 2003 by a tagging study totalling 60 fishing events (one/site/month).
(Summarised by: Khatija Alliji)
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