scholarly journals Evidence for protection of targeted reef fish on the largest marine reserve in the Caribbean

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabián Pina-Amargós ◽  
Gaspar González-Sansón ◽  
Félix Martín-Blanco ◽  
Abel Valdivia
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Habitat Complexity ◽  
Benthic Communities ◽  
Marine Reserve ◽  
Supporting Evidence ◽  
Reef Fish Species ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Abundance And Diversity ◽  
Positive Effect

Effective marine reserves can restore fish abundance and diversity in areas impacted by overfishing, but the outcomes of some reserves in developing countries where resources for enforcement are limited have seldom been evaluated. Here we assess whether the establishment of the largest marine reserve in the Caribbean has had a positive effect on the abundance of commercially valuable reef fish species in relation to neighboring unprotected areas. We surveyed 25 sites including two reef habitats (reef crest and reef slope) inside and outside the marine reserve Gardens of the Queen in Cuba over a 1.5-year period. Densities of the most targeted reef fish species were significantly higher inside than outside the reserve in both habitats. This trend was mostly consistent over time. Supporting evidence from previously published studies in the area indicates that habitat complexity, benthic communities, and the intensity of fishing pressure were similar inside and outside the reserve before reserve establishment. Additionally, reported differential fish behavior towards divers inside and outside the reserve and relative low poaching inside the reserve supported our results. Therefore, the differences observed during the study in the density of targeted reef fish among non-reserve and reserve sites have likely resulted from protection.

scholarly journals Evidence for protection of targeted reef fish on the largest marine reserve in the Caribbean

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabián Pina-Amargós ◽  
Gaspar González-Sansón ◽  
Félix Martín-Blanco ◽  
Abel Valdivia
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Habitat Complexity ◽  
Benthic Communities ◽  
Marine Reserve ◽  
Supporting Evidence ◽  
Reef Fish Species ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Abundance And Diversity ◽  
Positive Effect

Effective marine reserves can restore fish abundance and diversity in areas impacted by overfishing, but the outcomes of some reserves in developing countries where resources for enforcement are limited have seldom been evaluated. Here we assess whether the establishment of the largest marine reserve in the Caribbean has had a positive effect on the abundance of commercially valuable reef fish species in relation to neighboring unprotected areas. We surveyed 25 sites including two reef habitats (reef crest and reef slope) inside and outside the marine reserve Gardens of the Queen in Cuba over a 1.5-year period. Densities of the most targeted reef fish species were significantly higher inside than outside the reserve in both habitats. This trend was mostly consistent over time. Supporting evidence from previously published studies in the area indicates that habitat complexity, benthic communities, and the intensity of fishing pressure were similar inside and outside the reserve before reserve establishment. Additionally, reported differential fish behavior towards divers inside and outside the reserve and relative low poaching inside the reserve supported our results. Therefore, the differences observed during the study in the density of targeted reef fish among non-reserve and reserve sites have likely resulted from protection.

Change in the rocky reef fish fauna of the iconic Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve in north-eastern New Zealand over 4 decades

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (10) ◽  
pp. 1496
Author(s):  
David R. Schiel ◽  
Tony Ayling ◽  
Michael J. Kingsford ◽  
Christopher N. Battershill ◽  
J. Howard Choat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Marine Reserve ◽  
Fish Fauna ◽  
Rocky Reef ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Reef Fish Species

Marine reserves exhibit increases in targeted fish species, but long-term effects on biodiversity are poorly understood. Factors other than reserve status may affect decadal changes, including environmental change. We examined the fish fauna at the iconic Poor Knights Islands over 4 decades (1974–2016) before and after implementation of a no-take marine reserve in 1998. We document a substantial increase in commercially and recreationally targeted Chrysophrys auratus, which was virtually absent before 1994 but by 2016 had reached up to 11 fish per 500m2 (220 per hectare). There were also large changes to the fish community, including the decline of subtropical and coastal wrasses, some species with no change and others that increased significantly. Many declines occurred >20 years before the arrival of abundant C. auratus, suggesting the changes do not represent a trophic cascade. Furthermore, this normally benthic-feeding fish has adopted a mid-water foraging behaviour targeting planktivorous fish. The increase in C. auratus appears to be linked both to reserve status and catch regulations in the wider region. Overall, the data point to long-term environmental fluctuations from the late 1970s having a negative effect on the abundance of more than half the reef fish species at these islands.

Association between juvenile reef fish and the Caribbean reef squid Sepioteuthis sepioidea on north-eastern Brazilian coastal reefs

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 761-762 ◽  
Author(s):  
José de Anchieta C.C. Nunes ◽  
Laís de C.T. Chaves ◽  
Rodrigo Maia-Nogueira ◽  
Cláudio L.S. Sampaio
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Juvenile Fish ◽  
First Record ◽  
Squid Species ◽  
Caribbean Reef ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Reef Fish Species ◽  
Juvenile Reef Fish ◽  
The Caribbean

This article reports on four different juvenile reef fish species, Polydactylus virginicus, Haemulon aurolineatum, H. steindachneri and Carangoides bartholomaei swimming along with schools of the caribbean reef squid Sepioteuthis sepioidea. Three different behaviours were observed. This is the first record of this squid species on Brazilian reef habitats. We suggest that this behaviour is mainly related to protection for juvenile fish against potential pelagic predators.

Length‐weight relationships of 4 coral‐reef fish species encountered in Gilbert Islands coastal artisanal fisheries

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastien Gislard ◽  
Pauline Bosserelle ◽  
George Shedrawi ◽  
Rateiti Vaimalie ◽  
Liliana Iotebatu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Coral Reef Fish ◽  
Artisanal Fisheries ◽  
Reef Fish Species

scholarly journals Body size, reef area and temperature predict global reef-fish species richness across spatial scales

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R. Barneche ◽  
E. L. Rezende ◽  
V. Parravicini ◽  
E. Maire ◽  
G. J. Edgar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Reef Area ◽  
Reef Fish Species

Lessons learned from data-limited evaluations of data-rich reef fish species in the Gulf of Mexico: implications for providing fisheries management advice for data-poor stocks

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (9) ◽  
pp. 1624-1639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Skyler R. Sagarese ◽  
William J. Harford ◽  
John F. Walter ◽  
Meaghan D. Bryan ◽  
J. Jeffery Isely ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Stock Assessment ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Management Objectives ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Data Limitations ◽  
Management Procedures ◽  
Reef Fish Species

Specifying annual catch limits for artisanal fisheries, low economic value stocks, or bycatch species is problematic due to data limitations. Many empirical management procedures (MPs) have been developed that provide catch advice based on achieving a stable catch or a historical target (i.e., instead of maximum sustainable yield). However, a thorough comparison of derived yield streams between empirical MPs and stock assessment models has not been explored. We first evaluate trade-offs in conservation and yield metrics for data-limited approaches through management strategy evaluation (MSE) of seven data-rich reef fish species in the Gulf of Mexico. We then apply data-limited approaches for each species and compare how catch advice differs from current age-based assessment models. MSEs identified empirical MPs (e.g., using relative abundance) as a compromise between data requirements and the ability to consistently achieve management objectives (e.g., prevent overfishing). Catch advice differed greatly among data-limited approaches and current assessments, likely due to data inputs and assumptions. Adaptive MPs become clearly viable options that can achieve management objectives while incorporating auxiliary data beyond catch-only approaches.

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