Evidence for spillover of reef fishes from a no-take marine reserve: An evaluation using the before-after control-impact (BACI) approach

Estimates of the relative density of fishes form the basis of many marine ecological studies as well as the assessment of effects of fishing or pollution. Plasticity in the behavioural response of large reef fishes to SCUBA divers means that commonly used underwater visual census (UVC) techniques do not always provide reliable estimates of relative density. The paper describes the system configuration, deployment methods, testing and use of a remotely deployed baited underwater video (BUV) system for the survey of carnivorous reef fishes (snapper, Pagrus auratus and blue cod,Parapercis colias) in marine reserves of northern New Zealand. Concurrent UVC and BUV surveys inside and outside a marine reserve showed that, whereas UVC detected few snapper in either area (resulting in little confidence in statistically significant results), BUV demonstrated significant differences in relative density. Conversely, blue cod were found to occur at significantly higher densities within the reserve by UVC, but not by BUV. The provision of accurate estimates of fish size (<20 mm error) from video footage also illustrated differences in size structure between protected and fished populations. The data suggest that a combination of survey techniques is likely to be necessary where multispecies assemblages are being assessed.

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Influence of marine reserve size and boundary length on the initial response of exploited reef fishes in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, USA

Landscape Ecology ◽

10.1007/s10980-007-9136-0 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 23 (S1) ◽

pp. 55-65 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Aaron Bartholomew ◽

James A. Bohnsack ◽

Steven G. Smith ◽

Jerald S. Ault ◽

Douglas E. Harper ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Marine Reserve ◽

Florida Keys ◽

Initial Response ◽

Reef Fishes ◽

Boundary Length ◽

Reserve Size

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Massive differential site-specific and species-specific responses of temperate reef fishes to marine reserve protection

Global Ecology and Conservation ◽

10.1016/j.gecco.2014.07.004 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

pp. 13-26 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Tyler D. Eddy ◽

Anjali Pande ◽

Jonathan P.A. Gardner

Keyword(s):

Marine Reserve ◽

Reef Fishes ◽

Site Specific ◽

Temperate Reef ◽

Species Specific

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Evidence of a biomass hotspot for targeted fish species within Namena Marine Reserve, Fiji

Pacific Conservation Biology ◽

10.1071/pc18034 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 204 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Luke T. Barrett ◽

Arthur de Lima ◽

Jordan S. Goetze

Keyword(s):

Fish Species ◽

Marine Reserve ◽

Reef Fishes ◽

Unexpected Finding ◽

High Level ◽

High Fish ◽

Central Station ◽

Video Transect ◽

Very High ◽

High Diversity

Namena is Fiji’s oldest and second largest no-take marine reserve, and has relatively high abundance and biomass of targeted fishes within its boundaries due to a high level of protection since its creation in 1997 (formalised in 2005). Following anecdotal reports of exceptionally high fish abundance at the Grand Central Station dive site within Namena, we conducted a 500-m meandering diver-operated video transect along the main reef formation, to obtain abundance, length and biomass estimates for fish species targeted by local fishers. Our census revealed extremely high diversity, abundance and biomass (11436kgha−1) of targeted fishes. While demersal reef fishes were present at higher densities than on typical fished reefs in the region, they were dwarfed by aggregations of reef-associated pelagics, namely the barracuda Sphyraena forsteri (5540kgha−1) and the trevally Caranx sexfasciatus (4448kgha−1). These estimates are comparable to those of historically unfished or ‘pristine’ locations, an unexpected finding given the historical fishing pressure within the reserve before its establishment and ongoing pressure in surrounding fished areas. This finding presents Grand Central Station as a useful reference site for ecologists and managers, and highlights the ability of protected coral reefs to support or attract very high densities of fish.

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The marine fishes of St Eustatius Island, northeastern Caribbean: an annotated, photographic catalog

ZooKeys ◽

10.3897/zookeys.1007.58515 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1007 ◽

pp. 145-180

Author(s):

David Ross Robertson ◽

Carlos J. Estapé ◽

Allison M. Estapé ◽

Ernesto Peña ◽

Luke Tornabene ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Marine Fish ◽

Research Effort ◽

Marine Reserve ◽

Fish Fauna ◽

Field Research ◽

Reef Fishes ◽

Sources Of Information ◽

Species List ◽

Deep Reef ◽

Marine Habitats

Sint Eustatius (Statia) is a 21 km2 island situated in the northeastern Caribbean Sea. The most recent published sources of information on that island’s marine fish fauna is in two non-governmental organization reports from 2015–17 related to the formation of a marine reserve. The species-list in the 2017 report was based on field research in 2013–15 using SCUBA diving surveys, shallow “baited underwater video surveys” (BRUVs), and data from fishery surveys and scientific collections over the preceding century. That checklist comprised 304 species of shallow (mostly) and deep-water fishes. In 2017 the Smithsonian Deep Reef Observation Project surveyed deep-reef fishes at Statia using the crewed submersible Curasub. That effort recorded 120 species, including 59 new occurrences records. In March-May 2020, two experienced citizen scientists completed 62 SCUBA dives there and recorded 244 shallow species, 40 of them new records for Statia. The 2017–2020 research effort increased the number of species known from the island by 33.6% to 406. Here we present an updated catalog of that marine fish fauna, including voucher photographs of 280 species recorded there in 2017 and 2020. The Statia reef-fish fauna likely is incompletely documented as it has few small, shallow, cryptobenthic species, which are a major component of the regional fauna. A lack of targeted sampling is probably the major factor explaining that deficit, although a limited range of benthic marine habitats may also be contributing.

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Largest global shark biomass found in the northern Galápagos Islands of Darwin and Wolf

10.7287/peerj.preprints.1872 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Pelayo Salinas de León ◽

David Acuña-Marrero ◽

Etienne Rastoin ◽

Alan M Friedlander ◽

Mary K Donovan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Marine Reserve ◽

Reef Fishes ◽

Economic Importance ◽

Tourism Industry ◽

Ecological Value ◽

Quantitative Estimates ◽

Predatory Fishes ◽

Dive Tourism ◽

Galapagos Marine Reserve

Overfishing has dramatically depleted sharks and other large predatory fishes worldwide except for a few remote and/or well-protected areas. The islands of Darwin and Wolf in the far north of the Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR) are known for their large shark abundance, making them a global scuba diving and conservation hotspot. Here we report quantitative estimates of fish abundance at Darwin and Wolf over two consecutive years using stereo-video surveys, which reveal the largest reef fish biomass ever reported (17.5 t ha-1 on average), consisting largely of sharks. Despite this, the abundance of reef fishes around the GMR, such as groupers, has been severely reduced because of unsustainable fishing practices. Although Darwin and Wolf are within the GMR, they were not fully protected from fishing until March 2016. Given the ecological value and the economic importance of Darwin and Wolf for the dive tourism industry, the current protection should ensure the long-term conservation of this hotspot of unique global value.

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Density and size of reef fishes in and around a temperate marine reserve

Marine and Freshwater Research ◽

10.1071/mf07093 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 59 (2) ◽

pp. 165 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Matt Kleczkowski ◽

Russ C. Babcock ◽

Geordie Clapin

Keyword(s):

Sex Ratio ◽

Relative Density ◽

Marine Reserve ◽

Reef Fishes ◽

Recreational Fishing ◽

Top Predators ◽

Natural Predation ◽

Density And Biomass ◽

Labrid Species ◽

Related Mortality

The effects of marine reserve protection on the density, size, biomass, sex-ratio and overall assemblage structure of reef fishes were investigated at Kingston Reef Sanctuary, Rottnest Island, Western Australia. Significant trends in response to reserve protection were found for two species of top predators and several serially protogynous labrid species. The relative density and biomass of the heavily targeted Glaucosoma hebraicum was 10 and five times greater within the sanctuary respectively. Similarly, the biomass of the serranid, Epinephelides armatus, was 3.2 times greater in the sanctuary, although this difference was owing to a greater mean length not relative density. The male : female sex ratio for the labrid, Ophthalmolepis lineolatus, was significantly different between sanctuary and non-sanctuary sites, with the density of male O. lineolatus significantly greater within the sanctuary. Rottnest Island waters are largely restricted to recreational fishing, therefore these results suggest that a range of fish species around Rottnest Island are affected by recreational fishing, and that these effects are found in taxa beyond the primary target species. The patterns in the effects on bycatch species suggest that fishing-related mortality may be exerting a greater control on these populations than that exerted by natural predation.

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