Publication Abstract

Patterns of species and functional diversity around a coastal marine reserve: A fisheries perspective

Vanessa Stelzenmüller*, Francesc Maynou and Paloma Martín

Marine reserves are expected to function simultaneously as biological conservation and fisheries management tools, but empirical evidence linking conservation with fisheries benefits is scarce. We assessed patterns of fish diversity, catch (CPUE) and income (IPUE) around the Medes Islands Marine Protected Areas (Spain, NW Mediterranean) and explored the economic value of diversity for local fisheries by merging Geographic Information System (GIS) and geostatistics. We used catch data derived from the trammel net fleet operating around the MPA to gain information on species diversity, functional diversity, functional redundancy, CPUE and IPUE. Results revealed significant impact of the MPA and seagrass beds on diversity metrics, catch and income. Further, we found clear differences in functional redundancy in fish assemblages within the study area, indicating greater resilience of the fish assemblage against fishing pressure or human impact close to the MPA, while fish assemblages far away seem to be more vulnerable from disturbance. Moreover, we estimated spatial overlapping of increased values of diversity, CPUE and IPUE very close to the MPA and seagrass beds. Our spatial approach suggest that, besides the more commonly studied effect of density-dependent spillover of adult fish, increased levels of ecological diversity and economic diversity can also be fisheries benefits of a marine reserve. We conclude that biological conservation and fisheries benefits of MPAs can be complementary in the long-term, which should be considered in future policies for marine reserves or networks of marine reserves.

Reference

Vanessa Stelzenmüller*, Francesc Maynou and Paloma Martín (2009) Patterns of species and functional diversity around a coastal marine reserve: A fisheries perspective. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 18: 1-12