Rights statement: This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Biological Conservation. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Biological Conservation, 237, 2019 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2019.06.023
Accepted author manuscript, 3.93 MB, PDF document
Available under license: CC BY-NC-ND
Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Disentangling the response of fishes to recreational fishing over 30 years within a fringing coral reef reserve network
AU - Cresswell, A.K.
AU - Langlois, T.J.
AU - Wilson, S.K.
AU - Claudet, J.
AU - Thomson, D.P.
AU - Renton, M.
AU - Fulton, C.J.
AU - Fisher, R.
AU - Vanderklift, M.A.
AU - Babcock, R.C.
AU - Stuart-Smith, R.D.
AU - Haywood, M.D.E.
AU - Depczynski, M.
AU - Westera, M.
AU - Ayling, A.M.
AU - Fitzpatrick, B.
AU - Halford, A.R.
AU - McLean, D.L.
AU - Pillans, R.D.
AU - Cheal, A.J.
AU - Tinkler, P.
AU - Edgar, G.J.
AU - Graham, N.A.J.
AU - Harvey, E.S.
AU - Holmes, T.H.
N1 - This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Biological Conservation. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Biological Conservation, 237, 2019 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2019.06.023
PY - 2019/9/1
Y1 - 2019/9/1
N2 - Few studies assess the effects of recreational fishing in isolation from commercial fishing. We used meta-analysis to synthesise 4444 samples from 30 years (1987–2017) of fish surveys inside and outside a large network of highly protected reserves in the Ningaloo Marine Park, Western Australia, where the major fishing activity is recreational. Data were collected by different agencies, using varied survey designs and sampling methods. We contrasted the relative abundance and biomass of target and non-target fish groups between fished and reserve locations. We considered the influence of, and possible interactions between, seven additional variables: age and size of reserve, one of two reserve network configurations, reef habitat type, recreational fishing activity, shore-based fishing regulations and survey method. Taxa responded differently: the abundance and biomass inside reserves relative to outside was higher for targeted lethrinids, while other targeted (and non-targeted) fish groups were indistinguishable. Reef habitat was important for explaining lethrinid response to protection, and this factor interacted with reserve size, such that larger reserves were demonstrably more effective in the back reef and lagoon habitats. There was little evidence of changes in relative abundance and biomass of fishes with reserve age, or after rezoning and expansion of the reserve network. Our study demonstrates the complexities in quantifying fishing effects, highlighting some of the key factors and interactions that likely underlie the varied results in reserve assessments that should be considered in future reserve design and assessment.
AB - Few studies assess the effects of recreational fishing in isolation from commercial fishing. We used meta-analysis to synthesise 4444 samples from 30 years (1987–2017) of fish surveys inside and outside a large network of highly protected reserves in the Ningaloo Marine Park, Western Australia, where the major fishing activity is recreational. Data were collected by different agencies, using varied survey designs and sampling methods. We contrasted the relative abundance and biomass of target and non-target fish groups between fished and reserve locations. We considered the influence of, and possible interactions between, seven additional variables: age and size of reserve, one of two reserve network configurations, reef habitat type, recreational fishing activity, shore-based fishing regulations and survey method. Taxa responded differently: the abundance and biomass inside reserves relative to outside was higher for targeted lethrinids, while other targeted (and non-targeted) fish groups were indistinguishable. Reef habitat was important for explaining lethrinid response to protection, and this factor interacted with reserve size, such that larger reserves were demonstrably more effective in the back reef and lagoon habitats. There was little evidence of changes in relative abundance and biomass of fishes with reserve age, or after rezoning and expansion of the reserve network. Our study demonstrates the complexities in quantifying fishing effects, highlighting some of the key factors and interactions that likely underlie the varied results in reserve assessments that should be considered in future reserve design and assessment.
KW - Marine protected area
KW - MPA
KW - Fisheries
KW - Coral reef
KW - Ningaloo
KW - Adaptive management
KW - Recreational fishing
KW - Lethrinus
U2 - 10.1016/j.biocon.2019.06.023
DO - 10.1016/j.biocon.2019.06.023
M3 - Journal article
VL - 237
SP - 514
EP - 524
JO - Biological Conservation
JF - Biological Conservation
SN - 0006-3207
ER -