Abstract
AbstractWorldwide, several countries have established coherent, representative, and large‐scale networks of marine reserves to conserve biodiversity. Very few have, however, published systematic assessments of the ecological responses to this network protection, hindering broad understanding of their generality, utility, and efficacy. We present data collected from systematic sampling of rocky reef fish assemblages at sites across a network of 27 no‐take marine reserve areas (NTMR) and 27 partially protected areas (PPA) nested within multiple marine parks (regional networks) across three Australian bioregions spanning >1000 km of coastline (7° latitude) to test the generality of ecological change across this network. We also sampled 18 reference areas (outside of the marine parks) to provide an independent assessment of potential NTMR effects and also to assess whole marine park effects. Baited remote underwater video (BRUV) was used to sample fishes between depths of 20–40 m over austral winters in four years (2010, 2011, 2015, and 2016). Despite substantial bioregional differences in fish assemblages, large and consistent effects of NTMR protection were detected across all bioregions for a key commercially and recreationally harvested species, Chrysophrys auratus (pink snapper). There were substantial increases in relative abundance of C. auratus in NTMR compared with fished zones through time (effect sizes >150%). The wider assemblage of targeted fish (excluding C. auratus) only showed relatively small effects of protection (~11%) with trends observed for site‐attached wrasses (labrids) and planktivores (e.g., commercially fished Scorpis lineolata) that are recreationally and commercially harvested. Furthermore, the relative abundance of non‐target or by‐catch species generally did not differ among management zones across the bioregional network. These results highlight how NTMR can be used to assess the ecological effects of fishing and wider environmental management, and can be incorporated into ecosystem‐based management for reef species more generally. Importantly, the provision of robust evidence of the performance and generality of NTMR over large‐spatial scales (e.g., bioregions) provides greater confidence in the expected outcomes from marine reserve networks as a conservation management approach.
Highlights
In response to the documented and perceived degradation of the marine environment (Lotze et al 2006, 2018, Halpern et al 2008), most countries around the world are implementing a range of management actions to protect and conserve the biological diversity and social values of these ecosystems (Crain et al 2009, Spalding et al 2013, Long et al 2015)
Chrysophrys auratus increased in the no-take marine reserves (NTMR) through time relative to the partially protected areas (PPA) and reference areas (REF) areas (Fig. 2b), and showed strong bioregional patterns in abundance (Fig. 2b)
In the Tweed bioregion, C. auratus increased by 56% between period 1 and period 2 within the NTMR, while there were no significant increases in the fished areas within or outside of the marine parks (Fig. 2b)
Summary
In response to the documented and perceived degradation of the marine environment (Lotze et al 2006, 2018, Halpern et al 2008), most countries around the world are implementing a range of management actions to protect and conserve the biological diversity and social values of these ecosystems (Crain et al 2009, Spalding et al 2013, Long et al 2015). Coherent marine reserve networks are strategically designed systems of multiple no-take marine reserves (NTMR; i.e., IUCN II or higher classification; Dudley 2008) and partially protected areas (PPA; i.e., IUCN III; Dudley 2008) placed along a coastline to representatively conserve species and habitats with consistent management approaches (e.g., regulations, planning, enforcement, education; Grorud-Colvert et al 2014). This coherent design and management sets them apart from “ad hoc or regional” marine reserve networks (Grorud-Colvert et al 2014). Despite the significant resources required to establish and manage coherent networks of marine reserves, there are very few published assessments of the ecological responses to such comprehensive protection (Ahmadia et al 2015, Addison et al 2017, Gill et al 2017)
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