Beyond protection: Fisheries co-benefits of no-take marine reserves

Abstract

Overfishing and other anthropogenic impacts to ocean ecosystems have motivated widespread implementation of no-take marine reserves to protect biodiversity and fished resources. Fully protected marine reserves now comprise approximately 2.5% of the ocean and calls for enhanced protections abound. The benefits to marine biodiversity within reserve borders are clear, yet the contributions beyond borders remain the subject of continued scholarship. In this article, six co-benefits of marine reserves for fisheries are explored. Broadly, the six co-benefits fall within two categories 1) use of reserves as tools to adaptively learn, promote resiliency, and manage marine resources, especially in the face of a changing climate and 2) use of reserves to provide credit against uncertainty in management and sustainability criteria. Broader understanding and consideration of the benefits of marine reserves can further policy discussions and deepen conversations regarding social, ecological, and economic tradeoffs of implementing marine reserves.