Implementation Of Marine Protected Areas Research Articles

Spillover and competitive exclusion in the crustacean community following the implementation of a marine reserve

Abstract Flamanville marine protected area (MPA) located in Normandy, France, was created in 2000 to sustain the local crustacean fishery. In 1985, an annual survey targeting crustacean populations (e.g. European lobster Homarus gammarus, edible crab Cancer pagurus, and European spider crab Maja brachydactyla) that include the future MPA started. The MPA implementation effects were investigated in this study. The sampling design allowed the integration of spatial and temporal covariances to estimate the MPA effects. With respect to the initial objective, the MPA significantly improves the most economically valuable species, H. gammarus, abundance. Lobster catch per unit effort increased by 597% in the MPA, whereas outside it only increased by 156%. The MPA creation also led to an increase in lobster size inside the protected area. Furthermore, a few years after the MPA implementation, lobster catches showed a significant non-linear decline with distance from the centre of the reserve, suggesting a spillover effect. However, the edible crab catches were halved following the MPA implementation suggesting an opposite effect. Spider crab abundance seemed unaffected. Finally, the MPA implementation had no effect on edible crab and spider crab sizes. These differential responses appear to result from these species’ variable movement and competitive abilities.

From design to implementation: Lessons from planning the first marine protected area network in Canada

The social-ecological outcomes of marine protected areas (MPAs) can be amplified when sites are designed in networks that function cooperatively and synergistically. From 2015–2024, seventeen First Nations, the Province of British Columbia, and the Government of Canada collaboratively developed a Network Action Plan to establish an MPA Network for the Northern Shelf Bioregion (NSB). The NSB is a diverse and complex social-ecological region in British Columbia that spans an area of 102,000 km2 from Northern Vancouver Island to the Alaska border. Here, we describe the MPA Network planning process and the transition from Network planning to implementation. We discuss key elements of success that enabled the Network Action Plan’s collaborative development and lessons learned to inform and improve regional MPA Network implementation and global MPA Network planning and implementation. All phases of the planning process, including governance, development, engagement, design, and analysis, were guided by the following principles: collaborative governance, multiple ways of knowing, participatory engagement, and adaptation to new information. The Network Action Plan’s dynamic design process resulted in innovative approaches and tools to protect conservation objectives throughout the NSB. As the NSB MPA Network process transitions from planning toward implementation, collaborative governance, network monitoring, and ongoing participatory engagement processes will play a central role in advancing the goals and objectives articulated in the Network Action Plan and ensuring equitable social-ecological outcomes. Overall, the NSB MPA Network planning process provides a model for collaborative design of MPA Networks and can inform co-governance and co-management processes throughout the world.

Implementation of Area-Specific Action Plans (ASAP) for community-based MPAs in Cagayancillo, Palawan, Philippines: funded versus not funded

The Area Specific Action Plan (ASAP) for community-based MPAs serves as an outline of the framework for the purpose, design, and implementation of MPAs. The funding from the US Department of the Interior (USDOI) through Tanggol Kalikasan (TK) was used for the planning, training, and implementation of the Area-Specific Action Plan (ASAP) through Tanggol Kalikasan (TK). Two barangays from the Municipality of Cagayancillo were chosen as beneficiaries of the funding. This study aimed to assess the level of implementation of the ASAP on coastal resource management (CRM) and law enforcement in the community-managed MPAs in Cagayancillo Island, Palawan, through a comparison of the results of the perception survey interviews of the respondents from the control sites and funded sites. Four marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Cagayancillo region were selected as study areas: the MPAs in Barangays (Bgy.) Sta. Cruz (C1) and Nusa (C2) which did not receive additional funding from TK served as control sites; while Bgy. Mampio (F1) and Bgy. Talaga (F2) which received funding from TK, served as the funded site. The results showed that all CRM indicators were fully implemented (4.0) in C1, C2, and F2. The F1, on the other hand, had moderate implementation (2.0) of conducting seminar-workshops on MPA and poor implementation (1.0) of posting tarpaulin, signage, and other infographics. In terms of law enforcement, I1 had significantly moderate implementation (2.0) compared to other barangays. The implementation of ASAP in F1 was badly affected by Typhoon Odette in December 2021. Taking all factors into consideration, personal interview results revealed that the key to the effective implementation of MPAs’ CRM and law enforcement activities significantly depends on the leaders of a barangay. Well-established leadership can efficiently and responsibly implement projects within their areas.

Correspondence among multiple methods provides confidence when measuring marine protected area effects for species and assemblages

Abstract Marine protected areas (MPAs) have become a popular tool utilised across global oceans to achieve a variety of conservation goals. Because the reasons for MPA implementation can differ, it is imperative that resource managers design and execute management strategies that allow them to effectively assess MPA performance relative to the goals they set. We compared three MPA monitoring techniques commonly utilised to survey groundfish populations across different depth strata of temperate rocky reef habitat: underwater visual census (0–20 m), scientific hook and line fishing (10–50 m) and baited remote underwater video (30–100 m). We compared the strength and direction of standardised metrics, including response ratios, diversity indices and community structure, examining results through the lens of MPA performance. While each of our monitoring techniques detected similar MPA effects on groundfish biomass and density aggregated across species, MPA effects for individual species varied across methods. Each technique was shown to survey distinct groundfish community assemblages with varying levels of species diversity and richness. Synthesis and applications. While each technique was found to measure similar general trends in marine protected area (MPA) performance over time, we found compelling evidence that the utilization of multiple techniques allows managers to create the most comprehensive, effective and inclusive MPA monitoring regimes.

Evidence of rebound effect in New Zealand MPAs: Unintended consequences of spatial management measures

Fish size and fish biomass have been shown to increase inside the borders of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) after the cessation of fishing. However, the effects of marine protection on fishing fleet behaviour and fish catches outside of MPAs are less well understood. Here we investigated changes in total catch and Catch per Unit Effort (CPUE) of bottom trawlers outside the borders of offshore MPAs in New Zealand. We used Regression Discontinuity in Time (before versus after protection) on both aggregate and individual trawl event data for one Marine Reserve, two Benthic Protected Areas, one Closed Seamount Area and one Marine Mammal Sanctuary. Despite the various forms of protection that reduce the total fishable area, total catch tended to increase after MPA implementation. Yet, there was little evidence that this was due to the net-movement of fish from larger populations within MPA boundaries i.e. spillover. Rather, the increases in catch in the post protection period appeared to be a consequence of changes in the behaviours of commercial fishers. This may be an unintended and previously unreported negative consequence of marine protection that could dampen some of the many benefits of MPAs.

Managing for climate resilient fisheries: Applications to the Southern Ocean

Climate change is having profound effects on populations of fished species and the ecosystems on which they depend, lending to a growing body of work that advocates for climate resilience to be a priority in fishery management. Here, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the tools needed to manage for climate resiliency. The Antarctic region is among the most vulnerable to climate change, and thus, we then consider climate resilient management tools utilized by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), the body responsible for the management of Antarctic marine living resources as part of the Antarctic Treaty System. We note progress, gaps, and opportunities for implementation. Across the literature, ecosystem-based management was cited as an appropriate tool for climate resilience of marine ecosystems, as was the use of climate model outputs (projections and simulations), marine protected areas (MPAs), and dynamic stock assessments. CCAMLR has a unique position where its Convention effectively mandates the principles of an ecosystem-based precautionary approach for managing fisheries, and many of its Member States have been advocating for climate initiatives within this approach. While CCAMLR has made limited overall progress towards ensuring climate resilience, it has advanced in some areas, such as MPA implementation, developing a risk assessment for krill, and including statements on climate change in fishery reports, although there is much work to be done. While climate change remains a worldwide issue that must be addressed on a global scale, CCAMLR holds the responsibility for adaptively managing Southern Ocean marine living resources for climate resilience.

A dynamic game model for no-take marine reserves

Representing about 8% of the world’s oceans, marine protected areas (MPAs) are effective instruments for mitigating the damage that overfishing can do to ecological and economic systems. Yet, less than 2% of the ocean is proclaimed an exclusive no-take zone. Expecting their number and size to increase significantly in the coming years, meticulous implementation of MPAs is central to their success. Using a dynamic game model we explore the impact of designated no-take marine reserves on fish stock and on fishing strategies. Our findings suggest that optimality can be achieved in a context of a combination of three marine zones, i.e., an open access fishery, a marine protected area and a fish bank. Our methodology consists of considering an infinite time horizon discrete fishing game with a migratory species between the three regions. We analyze fishing strategies and characterize the model equilibria for different behaviors, the fully non-cooperative scheme, the social optimum and the cartel setting. Our analytical results are supported by the use of a numerical simulation that compares different scenarios, including the current state of the world in contrast to different sizes of MPAs and fish bank areas.

Conceptual frameworks and key questions for assessing the contribution of marine protected areas to shark and ray conservation.

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are key tools in addressing the global decline of sharks and rays, and marine parks and shark sanctuaries of various configurations have been established to conserve shark populations. However, assessments of their efficacy are compromised by inconsistent terminology, lack of standardized approaches to assess how MPAs contribute to shark and ray conservation, and ambiguity about how to integrate movement data in assessment processes. We devised a conceptual framework to standardize key terms (e.g., protection, contribution, potential impact, risk, threat) and used the concept of portfolio risk to identify key attributes of sharks and rays (assets), the threats they face (portfolio risk), and the specific role of MPAs in risk mitigation (insurance). Movement data can be integrated into the process by informing risk exposure and mitigation through MPAs. The framework is operationalized by posing 8 key questions that prompt practitioners to consider the assessment scope, MPA type and purpose, range of existing and potential threats, species biology and ecology, and management and operational contexts. Ultimately, MPA contributions to shark and ray conservation differ according to a complex set of human and natural factors and interactions that should be carefully considered in MPA design, implementation, and evaluation.

Co-design of a marine protected area zoning and the lessons learned from it

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are a tool to safeguard marine natural systems, yet their effectiveness depends on how well they are integrated into the existing socioeconomic context. Stakeholder engagement in MPA design can contribute to increasing integration. This study focuses on the co-design of an MPA between researchers, public administration, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations. The proposed MPA is in Portugal and includes an area that is a hotspot for biodiversity and economic activities. This is the first MPA proposal in mainland Portugal co-designed using a participatory approach. This study highlights the steps of the zoning process and synthesizes the eight main lessons learned, useful for other cases, particularly for relatively small coastal MPAs with multiple socioeconomic activities. Three zoning proposals were developed and discussed within the participatory process. The proposals considered the best scientific and local knowledge available and were defined using ecological, socioeconomic, and shape-area guiding principles. In an iterative manner and following a participatory approach, compromises with stakeholders were achieved, and a final proposal, scientifically sound and socially accepted by most stakeholders, was delivered to the government. The final zoning plan will achieve ambitious conservation goals, including the largest fully protected area to be declared in mainland Portugal, while minimizing the impacts on the existing economic activities and promoting its sustainability. This process resulted in valuable lessons that may be applied elsewhere and guide future MPA implementation or rezoning of existing ones. These transdisciplinary and participatory processes can be time and resource-consuming but are vital for ensuring MPA effectiveness.

Understanding How Marine Protected Areas Influence Local Prosperity-A Case Study of Gili Matra, Indonesia.

A Marine Protected Area (MPA) is always expected to create a specified outcome in ecosystem improvement. While they are certain to benefit marine life, MPAs also impact the surrounding communities, as they directly affect the livelihoods of people who rely on marine exploits to make a decent living. In other words, MPAs create new communal dynamics influencing the rate of prosperity in the surrounding communities. Unfortunately, the leverage of MPAs in the coastal communities’ social economy is often under-assessed in MPA-related research. The MPA’s influence on communal prosperity emphasizes the importance of policy incentives from stakeholders. Therefore, stakeholders’ perceptions of MPAs are fundamental in the planning and implementation of MPAs, which could improve the prosperity of the coastal communities. In Gili Matra, Indonesia, where tourism is the MPA’s backbone, MPAs are expected to sustain prosperity for future generations. However, some stakeholders with different influential stances to the MPA (Influential Stakeholders (IS) and Non-Influential Stakeholders (NIS)) demand a contradictive approach. This could lead to managerial issues for the MPAs. These issues must be addressed to avoid contradictory objectives that could harm MPA implementation.

Unambiguously defined and recognized seabed protection targets are necessary for successful implementation of MPAs

Bottom-impacting fisheries affect benthic marine ecosystems through extraction of resources and physical habitat impact. To protect natural values against human impacts, marine protected areas (MPAs) are being implemented. In practice, however, these do not necessarily provide full protection against bottom-impacting fisheries. Sometimes only certain types of fishing are prohibited, or only during certain periods of the year. In the Netherlands currently 20% of the North Sea is declared MPA. Most areas include ambiguously defined conservation goals for the seafloor, such as protection against ‘note-worthy’ impact. The government, fishermen and NGOs state that respectively 4%, 20% and less than 1% of the Dutch North Sea floor is currently protected against bottom-impacting fisheries. These diverging perspectives hamper successful communication, and result in different views on whether the Netherlands meets (inter)national targets. This paper reveals the fact-base and rationale behind these different perspectives, and illustrates these in more detail for three areas in the Dutch North Sea. We suggest five steps to help avoid miscommunication, operationally define Dutch MPAs and ensure their effectiveness; (1) explicitly specify protection goals beforehand, (2) substantiate why and how the protection goals under (1) will be reached with the proposed measures, (3) define measurable targets, (4) ensure enforcement and (5) monitor closely and adapt when needed. The explicit fact-base presented in this paper aims to contribute to a constructive discussion about protection goals and necessary measures, and prevents Babylonian confusion. Recent new developments concerning the ‘North Sea Agreement’, as well as the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, have the potential to solve several of the abovementioned challenges.

Using Stakeholders’ Perception to Evaluate the Prospects of Establishing Marine Protected Areas in the Niger Delta Coastal Ecosystem

This study assesses the Political, Economic, Social, Technical, Legal, and Environmental (PESTLE) factors for establishing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Niger Delta coastal waters. Interview and questionnaire methods were used to collect the needed information from locals and environmental experts. The locals include fishermen from four (4) coastal locations in the Niger Delta while experts include relevant government institutions, researchers, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). Data collected from the survey were analyzed and used to determine the state of 18 PESTLE sub-criteria, and Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) was used to find the sub-criteria weights (importance). The stakeholder’s perceptions on potential MPAs were analyzed and compared with Relative Importance Index (RII). Results show stakeholders agree more on the prioritization of MPA implementation criteria and expected benefits but agree less on the MPA objectives and beneficiaries. Environmental prospects for MPAs in the Niger Delta have the highest performance score and vice versa for the political and technical capacity for MPA implementation and management. The study concludes Niger Delta has potentials for MPAs which can be achieved through addressing the identified weaknesses and threats.

California’s lessons learned and recommendations for effective marine protected area network management

Establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) and MPA networks has increased globally following the passage of the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Strategic Plan for Biodiversity in 2010. Known as the Aichi Target 11, this plan calls for the protection of 10% of coastal and marine environments by 2020. Despite an increase of global efforts to implement MPAs, and more recently MPA networks, to achieve the Aichi Target 11, there is limited peer-reviewed literature about lessons learned and insights for effective implementation and management. With California home to one of the largest, scientifically guided, stakeholder-driven, ecologically connected networks of MPAs in the world, this paper offers guidance to MPA managers and policy makers on points of consideration prior to, during, and following, MPA implementation. Topics and recommendations are based on lessons learned from the design and implementation of California’s MPA Management Program. Recommendations range from the importance of using relevant designations during MPA planning and implementation, flexibility in enforcement measures and scientific monitoring, as well as addressing overlapping governance and authorities, and early and continued public outreach and engagement. Broadly, establishing an adaptive management process to provide a responsive framework for potential management changes including a mechanism for evaluating the efficacy of a network of MPAs following establishment is critical. While management of California’s MPA Network continues to evolve, these insights can inform other MPA network planning and management efforts.

Lobster reserves as a management tool in coastal waters: Two decades of experience in Norway

The positive effects of reduced fishing pressure in marine protected areas (MPAs) are now well documented globally. Yet, evidence of MPA benefits from long-term replicated before-after control-impact (BACI) studies and their usefulness in protecting target species are still rare, especially in northern temperate areas. Scientific rigor in the monitoring of MPAs is considered important for obtaining trust and compliance and can increase interest and enthusiasm for the benefits of marine conservation. Off the coast of southern Norway, a MPA implementation process started up in 2002. Based on comprehensive consultations with local fishers and managers, four experimental lobster reserves were appointed in 2004. Two years later (2006), the reserves came into effect as the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries implemented regulations as a by-law of the Saltwater Fisheries Act that effectively banned all fixed gear. Long-term monitoring of the MPAs and adjacent control areas has enabled a rigorous scientific evaluation of the effects of these MPAs on lobster populations, including effects on density, growth, demography, behavior, and phenotypic diversity. As protection effects started to manifest, the lobster reserves attracted high public attention and were soon considered a credible supplement to traditional fisheries management. In the period from 2002 to 2021, more than 50 lobster reserves have been implemented in Norway. Here, we review the experiences since the lobster reserves were designated, implemented, and embraced by local communities in Norway, and over two decades have become an important tool for fishery management. Thoughts on the future of MPAs along the coast of Norway are discussed.

Using a difference-in-differences and synthetic control approach to investigate the socioeconomic impacts of Oregon's marine reserves

As Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) expand in size and number, it is critical that we understand how they are impacting local communities. However, social impact evaluations on MPAs are often conducted with limited data points before and after MPA implementation, which can weaken the reliability of their results. To address this gap, we collected longitudinal American Community Survey (ACS) socioeconomic data on coastal communities and counties adjacent to marine reserves in Oregon. Oregon has both limited-take MPAs and stricter no-take marine reserves. This study focused solely on the marine reserves. We compared treatment and control units before and after marine reserve implementation using both difference-in-differences (DID) and synthetic control approaches. Each approach yielded different results, potentially providing a more complete picture of marine reserve impacts and long-term trends while also highlighting the need to consider the variability of ACS data collected from small communities. The percent of the population employed in tourism-related industries was the only significant model in both the DID and synthetic control approaches. Tourism employment increased post marine reserve implementation more in communities adjacent to the marine reserves than in more distant coastal communities. This result could indicate that marine reserves are bringing more visitors to the coast, thereby increasing the need for a more tourism-based economy. However, this may not be the case since most coastal visitors are unaware of Oregon's marine reserves and fewer than 10% of business owners think the reserves have impacted their business. An alternative hypothesis is that the marine reserves were placed near communities with a prominent land-sea connection that were already shifting their economic base to focus more on tourism. This study contributes to the literature by demonstrating how secondary data sources can be used to aid in a more comprehensive MPA impact evaluation, how two different impact evaluation approaches (i.e., synthetic control and DID) can result in differing conclusions, and how the robust synthetic control approach can be easily applied to improve MPA impact evaluations. As one element of a large-scale assessment of marine reserve impacts, this study also broadens our understanding of underlying trends on the Oregon coast and how the recently implemented marine reserves may be impacting nearby communities.

Impact of marine protected areas on temporal stability of fish species diversity.

Preserving biodiversity over time is a pressing challenge for conservation science. A key goal of marine protected areas (MPAs) is to maintain stability in species composition, via reduced turnover, to support ecosystem function. Yet, this stability is rarely measured directly under different levels of protection. Rather, evaluations of MPA efficacy generally consist of static measures of abundance, species richness, and biomass, and rare measures of turnover are limited to short-term studies involving pairwise (beta diversity) comparisons. Zeta diversity is a recently developed metric of turnover that allows for measurement of compositional similarity across multiple assemblages and thus provides more comprehensive estimates of turnover. We evaluated the effectiveness of MPAs at preserving fish zeta diversity across a network of marine reserves over 10 years in Batemans Marine Park, Australia. Snorkel transect surveys were conducted across multiple replicated and spatially interspersed sites to record fish species occurrence through time. Protection provided by MPAs conferred greater stability in fish species turnover. Marine protected areas had significantly shallower decline in zeta diversity compared with partially protected and unprotected areas. The retention of harvested species was four to six times greater in MPAs compared with partially protected and unprotected areas, and the stabilizing effects of protection were observable within 4 years of park implementation. Conversely, partial protection offered little to no improvement in stability, compared with unprotected areas. These findings support the efficacy of MPAs for preserving temporal fish diversity stability. The implementation of MPAs helps stabilize fish diversity and may, therefore, support biodiversity resilience under ongoing environmental change.

Effectiveness of Large-Scale Marine Protected Areas in the Atlantic Ocean for Reducing Fishing Activities

The implementation of large-scale marine protected areas (MPAs) depends upon scarce conservation resources, while their effects on biodiversity conservation are rarely assessed to date. Quantitative evaluations are necessary to assess the effectiveness of large-scale MPAs in enhancing ecosystem resilience, protecting biodiversity, and mitigating expanding threats. In this study, the effectiveness of large-scale MPAs, which are remotely managed and in offshore areas of the southwestern Atlantic Ocean (Brazil), was assessed concerning the occurrence of fishing activities within their boundaries before and after their implementation. Two sets of MPAs surrounding the São Pedro and São Paulo archipelago (SPSP) and the Trindade-Martin Vaz Islands (TMV) were established in early 2018, each comprising one no-take (i.e., fully-protected) and one multiple-use (i.e., partially-protected) area. For this assessment, I used satellite detections of Vessel Monitoring System transmission to quantify the fishing pressure (i.e., “likely fishing days”) from commercial fisheries spanning 5 years (2015–2019). I then derived three metrics – fishing area, intensity, and density – to compare fishing activity within each MPA and year. The results showed that the effectiveness of the multiple-use MPAs was variable and contrasting, with SPSP experiencing a reduction in the fishing intensity and area and TMV experiencing an increase in both measures. An inverted pattern was evident for the no-take MPAs: while the one in the SPSP region experienced an increase in the fishing density after its establishment following a squeeze factor, the no-take MPA in the TMV region observed a decrease in the fishing density when comparing years before and after MPA implementation. These outputs can support managers in planning the implementation of further conservation strategies, such as monitoring and enforcement plans, and the analyses here also contribute to enhancing our understanding on the implications and challenges of adopting large-scale MPAs in the offshore environment as a high-profile strategy of ocean conservation.

Relationships Matter: Assessing the Impacts of a Marine Protected Area on Human Wellbeing and Relational Values in Southern Tanzania

The push to meet global marine conservation targets has significantly increased the scope and scale of marine protected areas (MPAs) worldwide. While the benefits derived from MPA establishment are often optimistically framed as a “win-win” for both marine biodiversity and for the wellbeing of coastal peoples, this assumption is challenged for several reasons, including the fact that current science and practice frequently fails to account for the full impact of MPAs on human wellbeing. This context poses a danger that the context specific, place based aspects of wellbeing, like relations to others and the marine environment, will not be accounted for, examined, or reported in evaluation and decision-making processes. To address this challenge, this research investigates how MPA implementation can change and challenge the relational wellbeing and relational values of small-scale fishers (SSFs) living in Mnazi Bay-Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park, Tanzania. Fieldwork occurred over 2019–2020 and used qualitative data collection methods, including: 140 semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and observation. Results highlight a dynamic interaction between the MPA and SSFs relational wellbeing, including how relational values inform everyday fishing practices, cultural and place identities, as well as interactions with others and connections to the marine environment. Top-down approaches used in MPA development worked against key relational values, including social cohesion, reciprocity, place, agency and self-determination to dismantle and disrupt the practices SSFs viewed as fundamental to their livelihood and collective wellbeing. Our findings serve as a starting point to better recognize the context specific factors that underlie relational wellbeing and give insight into how relational values shape social-ecological complexity within coastal communities. The paper highlights how the international marine conservation community can better account for and foster relational wellbeing and relational values to achieve the goals of both human wellbeing and marine biodiversity conservation.

“Plenty of black money”: Netnography of illegal recreational underwater fishing in southern Spain

Recreational fishers often oppose the implementation of marine protected areas when they perceive them as a threat to the continuity of their activity or when they understand that their interests are at risk. In this case study we describe the extension of illegal fishing practices in a group of underwater recreational fishers in the area of influence of Cabo Roche, in southern Spain. Since the group was reluctant to participate in the research, the participant observation in situ was complemented by a netnography and the analysis of social network of contacts in online networking sites. To document illegal practices, 429 photographs shared online were analyzed, and the network of friends on Facebook of 61 underwater recreational fishers was drawn. The results showed that illegal practices are widespread in the analyzed group, in which a subculture of black money has emerged that justifies the performance of activities not allowed. It is a highly cohesive group that competes to capture the largest specimens and demonstrate their fishing skills. Recreational fishers perceive that the main beneficiaries of a Marine Reserve of Fishing Interest would be small-scale commercial fishermen. In the conclusions of the study we underline the importance of involving recreational fishermen in the planning processes of marine protected areas, so that their interests are represented and they are committed to compliance with fishing regulations.

Response of a southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) population to three years of Marine Protected Area implementation within South Australia

AbstractThe Western Kangaroo Island Marine Park (WKIMP) was declared as part of South Australia's representative system of Marine Protected Areas in 2009. Sanctuary Zone 3 (SZ-3) of the WKIMP is a no-take area protected from fishing since 1 October 2014 and is located within the Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery (NZRLF). In February 2017, a dedicated survey was undertaken to estimate the relative abundance (catch per unit effort (CPUE), kg/potlift) and size of southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) inside and outside SZ-3. Survey results were then compared with historical estimates of abundance and size obtained from commercial fishery-dependent data. Survey estimates of relative abundance of legal-size lobsters were 4.4 times greater inside SZ-3 compared with outside in 2017. Since 2014, when fishing was last permitted inside SZ-3, the relative abundance of lobsters increased by 75%. The mean size of legal-size female and male lobsters also increased by 4.1% and 12.5%, respectively. The population responses recorded are consistent with the results recorded for southern rock lobster stocks in marine parks in other jurisdictions.