scholarly journals Soft-bottom fishes and spatial protection: findings from a temperate marine protected area

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inês Sousa ◽  
Jorge M.S. Gonçalves ◽  
Joachim Claudet ◽  
Rui Coelho ◽  
Emanuel J. Gonçalves ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Fish Communities ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Multiple Use ◽  
Soft Bottom ◽  
The North

Numerous studies over the last decades have focused on marine protected areas (MPAs) and their effects on fish communities. However, there is a knowledge gap regarding how species that live associated with soft-substrates (e.g., sand, mud) respond to spatial protection. We analyzed abundance, biomass and total lengths of the soft-bottom fishes in a multiple-use MPA in the north-eastern Atlantic, the Luiz Saldanha Marine Park (Portugal), during and after the implementation of its management plan. Data were collected by experimental fishing in areas with three different levels of protection, during the implementation period and for three years after full implementation of the MPA. Univariate analysis detected significant biomass increases between the two periods. Fish assemblages were mainly structured by depth and substrate, followed by protection level. Community composition analyses revealed significant differences between protection levels and between the two periods. Species exhibited a broad variation in their response to protection, and we hypothesize that factors such as species habitat preferences, body size and late maturity might be underlying determinants. Overall, this study provides some evidence of protection effectiveness in soft-bottom fish communities, supported by the significant increase in biomass in the protected areas and the positive trends of some species.

scholarly journals An evolving protocol to identify key stakeholder-influenced indicators of coastal change: the case of Marine Protected Areas

2008 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 203-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prassede Vella ◽  
Robert E. Bowen ◽  
Anamarija Frankic
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Integrated Management ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Coastal Change ◽  
Management Effectiveness ◽  
Stakeholder Input

Abstract Vella, P., Bowen, R. E., and Frankic, A. 2009. An evolving protocol to identify key stakeholder-influenced indicators of coastal change: the case of Marine Protected Areas. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 203–213. In recent years, there has been a growing realization of the need to protect and conserve degrading environments. This can only be achieved through integrated management of environmental protection and the rational use of living and non-living resources. However, no management plan that aims at sustainable development can be successful unless the human factor is included. The concept of ecosystem-based management considers socio-economic issues in evaluating management effectiveness. In this paper, we present a method for selecting and prioritizing socio-economic indicators, using a bottom-up approach involving stakeholder input. This technique is developed further to measure the effectiveness of integrated coastal management, using a Marine Protected Area (MPA) as an example. Stakeholder input is essential at an early stage to ensure MPA management success, providing the opportunity to include public participation and ensure community support. This paper presents a transparent and adaptable indicator ranking protocol and evaluative rules, ensuring that an ecosystem-based approach can be more effectively implemented.

Latitudinal variation of demersal fish assemblages in the western Ross Sea

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 782-792 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malcolm R. Clark ◽  
Matthew R. Dunn ◽  
Peter J. McMillan ◽  
Matthew H. Pinkerton ◽  
Andrew Stewart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Multivariate Analyses ◽  
Ross Sea ◽  
Fish Communities ◽  
Demersal Fish ◽  
The North ◽  
Sample Frequency ◽  
Main Components ◽  
Temperature Depth

AbstractDemersal fishes were sampled using a large fish trawl during two surveys carried out in February and March 2004 and 2008 in the Ross Sea, and around seamounts and islands just to the north at 66°S. The distribution and abundance of 65 species collected in these surveys were examined to determine if demersal fish communities varied throughout the area, and what environmental factors might influence this. Species accumulation with sample frequency did not reach an asymptote, but the rate of new species was low suggesting data were adequate for describing the main components of the communities. Three broad assemblages were identified, in the southern Ross Sea (south of 74°S), central–northern Ross Sea (between latitudes 71°–74°S), and the seamounts further north (65°–68°S) where some species more typical of sub-Antarctic latitudes were observed. Multivariate analyses indicated that environmental factors of seafloor rugosity (roughness), temperature, depth, and current speed were the main variables determining patterns in demersal fish communities.

Protecting Garifuna Territory for Whom? Gender, Power, and Ecotourism in the Cayos Cochinos Marine Protected Area

2011 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 12-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keri Brondo ◽  
Natalie Bown ◽  
Laura Woods
Keyword(s):  
Protected Area ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
North Coast ◽  
Small Islands ◽  
Livelihood Strategy ◽  
The North ◽  
Gender Power ◽  
Google Search

The Cayos Cochinos, a set of two small islands (Cayo Menor and Cayo Mayor) and thirteen coral cays located off the north coast of Honduras, are picturesque in their postcard beauty. A Google search brings up descriptions of the islands as "diamonds in the rough," "a divers' and snorkelers' paradise," "the most stunning scenery ever to behold," "a private paradise." The archipelago's beauty is undeniable, yet the costs of "protecting" its natural attractions are high, especially to the Afro-indigenous Garifuna who have relied on the area's resources since their arrival in the early 1800s. This article addresses the challenges to Garifuna culture and traditions-particularly the practice of fishing-created by the establishment of the Cayos Cochinos Marine Protected Area (CCMPA), and the promotion of ecotourism as a replacement livelihood strategy through the 2004-2009 CCMPA management plan.

scholarly journals Free-diving underwater fish photography contests: a complementary tool for assessing littoral fish communities

2018 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Gordoa ◽  
Jordi Boada ◽  
Antoni García-Rubies ◽  
Oscar Sagué
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Fish Communities ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Fish Diversity ◽  
Littoral Fish ◽  
Potential Tool ◽  
Image Frequency

Characterizing fish communities must be a priority to safeguard resources and determine critical changes. Here, species richness and the spatial and temporal evolution in the structure of fish assemblages were analysed based on photos taken in underwater free-diving contests. A total of 29 contests held from 2008 to 2015 at four different locations along the northeastern Spanish coast, including a marine protected area were analysed. Contests reward the number of species per participant and photographic quality. Species image frequency from each tournament were standardized to catch image rate. A total of 88 taxa were recorded, including 32 cryptobenthic species, the highest number recorded in the Mediterranean littoral system so far. Cluster analyses yielded four major groups. Catch image rates in the marine protected area were significantly higher for seven species of high commercial interest and for two big labrids of recreational interest, including an endangered species (Labrus viridis). Overall, the study showed that photographic free-diving contest data are a potential tool for determining species richness in littoral systems since contest rules promote competition between participants to obtain maximum fish diversity. We believe that this type of cost-effective data can be applied worldwide as a complementary way of monitoring littoral fish assemblage.

Fish assemblages composition and structure in three shallow habitats in north Australian tropical bay, Garig Gunak Barlu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia

2008 ◽  
Vol 89 (3) ◽  
pp. 449-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor E. Gomelyuk
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Fish Communities ◽  
Fish Fauna ◽  
High Water ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Species Number ◽  
Associated Species

The baited remote underwater video technique (BRUVS) was used to compare fish assemblages at three sites with different habitat characteristics: sandy bank (SB), rock reef (RR) and degraded coral reef (DCR) in Port Essington, Garig Gunak Barlu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia. The Carangidae family dominated, representing 35% of all recorded fish. The highest species number was recorded at RR followed by DCR and SB. The highest total fish number was recorded at DCR followed by SB and RR. Fish assemblages from all three sites are clearly different at high confidence level, but still overlapping and higher overlapping was found between SB and RR. Fish assemblages at all three studied sites contained some coral-associated species, fish fauna was less rich compared to coral reefs in the mouth of the bay and fish assemblages were noticeably different from typical coral fish communities. None of the fish assemblages at studied sites were presented by the ‘pure’, single habitat-associated association of species—at all three sites fish communities were a mixture of fish with various habitat preferences. Reef-associated species have a larger proportion at DCR and at RR their habitat complexity was higher; still soft-bottom habitat fish make substantial fractions in fish assemblages at both DCR and RR. Similarly, fish usually identified as ‘reef associated’ were found in notable proportions on SB. Fish with wide distribution and low selectivity in habitat preferences comprised a significant part in fish assemblages at all studied sites. In this study the BRUVS technique worked well in the area where diving visual surveys were impossible to implement because of high water turbidity. Another advantage of this method is the non-impact nature of visual survey; they can be used in long-term monitoring of fish assemblages at reference sites.

scholarly journals How good is your marine protected area at curbing threats?

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirta Zupan
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Human Impacts ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Threat Assessment ◽  
Local Scale ◽  
Coastal Environments ◽  
Multiple Use ◽  
Reduction Capacity

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are key tools to mitigate human impacts in coastal environments, promoting sustainable activities to conserve biodiversity. The designation of MPAs alone may not result in the lessening of some human threats, which is highly dependent on management goals and the related specific regulations that are adopted. Here, we develop and operationalize a local threat assessment framework. We develop indices to quantify the effectiveness of MPAs (or individual zones within MPAs in the case of multiple-use MPAs) in reducing anthropogenic extractive and non-extractive threats operating at local scale, focusing specifically on threats that can be managed through MPAs. We apply this framework in 15 Mediterranean MPAs to assess their threat reduction capacity. We show that fully protected areas effectively eliminate extractive activities, whereas the intensity of artisanal and recreational fishing within partially protected areas, paradoxically, is higher than that found outside MPAs, questioning their ability at reaching conservation targets. In addition, both fully and partially protected areas attract non-extractive activities that are potential threats. Overall, only three of the 15 MPAs had lower intensities for the entire set of eight threats considered, in respect to adjacent control unprotected areas. Understanding the intensity and occurrence of human threats operating at the local scale inside and around MPAs is important for assessing MPAs effectiveness in achieving the goals they have been designed for, informing management strategies, and prioritizing specific actions.

scholarly journals Ensuring the Sustainability of Coastal Small-Scale Fisheries at Pitcairn Island (South Pacific) Within a Large Scale No-Take MPA

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry J. Duffy ◽  
Tom B. Letessier ◽  
Heather J. Koldewey ◽  
Terence P. Dawson ◽  
Robert A. Irving
Keyword(s):  
Fisheries Management ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
South Pacific ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Artisanal Fisheries ◽  
Top Predator

The Pitcairn Islands, located in the central South Pacific, contain near-pristine marine ecosystems which support unique fish assemblages, together with both endemic and threatened species. Pitcairn itself is the only inhabited island in the group and, before this study, the environmental impact of local fisheries was unclear, with little data to inform conservation and management. In 2014–2015 coastal fish populations were assessed using a mixed methods approach: a newly introduced system of fishers’ catch monitoring and Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems (BRUVS). Thirty-nine BRUVS deployments recorded 88 species in total, with small-bodied herbivores (e.g., Kyphosus pacificus) and mesopredators (e.g., Xanthichthys mento) dominating a “bottom heavy” assemblage. Several large pelagic predators were recorded, but reef-associated predators were rare with only one shark observed. Pitcairn’s top predator assemblage was relatively impoverished compared to global “pristine” sites, including other islands within the Pitcairn group. Top predator scarcity may be explained by local artisanal fisheries, which have historically targeted sharks and other large reef carnivores, and these taxa may not have recovered despite subsequent declines in fishing pressure. The dominant small-bodied species may have proliferated as a result of diminished top predator populations. Subsequent to BRUVS sampling, a local fisheries officer post was created to collate catch data from coastal fishers. Regular returns were obtained from over half of the active fishers (representing approximately 80% of catches), with K. pacificus also dominating catches and the small grouper Epinephelus fasciatus frequently targeted. Thirty fish species were represented in the recorded catch over a 12 month period. Results were shared with the local community, providing a basis for the cooperative design of a Fisheries Management Plan. This plan ensured traditional fisheries could continue in a sustainable manner within Coastal Conservation Zones around each of the four Pitcairn Islands, established within the large, no-take Marine Protected Area designated in 2016, covering the entire Pitcairn Exclusive Economic Zone. Monitoring of Pitcairn’s artisanal fisheries should be continued beyond this one-off study in order to inform adjustment of the Fisheries Management Plan, as the ongoing island fishery may still have consequences for long-term sustainability, particularly for pelagic species caught in coastal waters which remain a significant data gap.

scholarly journals Fish Communities, Habitat Use, and Human Pressures in the Upper Volta Basin, Burkina Faso, West Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (19) ◽  
pp. 5444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Meulenbroek ◽  
Sebastian Stranzl ◽  
Adama Oueda ◽  
Jan Sendzimir ◽  
Komandan Mano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Fish Communities ◽  
Fish Populations ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
Habitat Conditions ◽  
Key Species

Human pressures and loss of natural fish habitats led to a decline in fish populations in terms of abundances, biodiversity, and average size in sub-Sahelian Burkina Faso. Little knowledge exists about fish assemblages regarding their composition, their habitat preferences, or their sensitivity to or tolerance of human pressures. This research provides the first data-driven basis for sustainably managing fish and associated aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Surveys in four different regions sampled 18,000 specimens from 69 species during the dry season. Fish communities, available abiotic habitat conditions, habitat use, and human pressures were assessed and analyzed. Fish communities cluster into four distinct types, each dominated by either Cichlidae, Clariidae, Cyprinidae, or Alestidae and accompanied by specific other families and genera of fish. Habitat preferences of four key species (Labeo coubie, Bagrus bajad, Chelaethiops bibie, and Lates niloticus) were linked to ecological habitat conditions. Results show that physical parameters influence fish community composition and abundances and, when indexed according to pressure type, are linked to responses in fish metrics. Relative abundance either dropped (Mormyridae) or increased (Cichlidae, Cyprinidae) with rising pressure intensity, and some sentinel taxa (Auchenoglanis, Hydrocynus) were only found in low-pressure sites. The outcomes of this study provide basic knowledge of habitat availability, habitat use by fish, species associations, and human pressures and therefore provide the basis for effective conservation and management of fish populations.

scholarly journals The saola Pseudoryx nghetinhensis in Vietnam – new information on distribution and habitat preferences, and conservation needs

Oryx ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neville Kemp ◽  
Michael Dilger ◽  
Neil Burgess ◽  
Chu Van Dung
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Human Disturbance ◽  
New Records ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Primary Forest ◽  
Mountainous Terrain ◽  
Conservation Areas ◽  
The North ◽  
New Information ◽  
River Valleys

In 1995 a new population of the recently described, endangered bovid, the saola Pseudoryx nghetinhensis, was found in the forests of Bu Huong, Nghe An Province in Vietnam. The new records were to the north of the main known populations, and represent an important range extension for the species. The new population may number only 30 individuals and appears to be confined to river valleys in primary forest. Investigations at this site and a compilation of published and unpublished data suggest that the range of the species in Vietnam and Laos includes over 5000 sq km of mountainous terrain, four protected areas (Vu Quang and Pu Mat, Nature Reserves [Vietnam], Nakai Nam Theun and Hin Namnu National Biodiversity Conservation Areas [Laos]), and three proposed protected areas (Bu Hong [Vietnam], Nam Chuan and Nakai Nam Theun Northern Extension National Boidiversity Conservation Areas [Laos]). All known locations for the species are mountainous with steep river valleys, covered by evergreen or semideciduous forests between 300 and 1800 m, with low human disturbance. The main threats to its survival are hunting by local villagers and clearance of forests to provide farmland. Both need to be tackled if the saola and other forest-endemic species of this area are to persist.

scholarly journals Effort allocation and marine protected areas: is the North Sea Plaice Box a management compromise?

2008 ◽  
Vol 65 (7) ◽  
pp. 1203-1215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jens Kjærsgaard ◽  
Hans Frost
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
North Sea ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Optimization Procedure ◽  
Bioeconomic Model ◽  
Effort Allocation ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Sea

Abstract Kjærsgaard, J., and Frost, H. 2008. Effort allocation and marine protected areas: is the North Sea Plaice Box a management compromise? – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 1203–1215. A complex bioeconomic model is used to study the economic and biological consequences of establishing a marine protected area (MPA). The model is a multispecies age-structured bioeconomic model that treats days at sea and number of vessels, for different fleets fishing inside and outside the protected area, as endogenous variables. A simulation applies an adaptive investment rule that determines fleet size from year to year, and an optimization procedure provides a benchmark for a profit-maximizing solution over time. In contrast to most conventional studies on MPAs, fishing within the protected area is possible. Moreover, the stock is not divided between inside and outside the protected area, although the abundance of different age classes in each area differs. Therefore, the economic and biological impacts of fishing inside or outside are different. The North Sea flatfish fishery is used as a case study, so the analysis is particularly relevant because North Sea flatfish regulation is currently under revision.

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