Spatial Management Measures Research Articles

Balancing resource protection and fishing activity: The case of the European hake in the northern Iberian Peninsula

AbstractOne of the fundamental aims of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management is to ensure the long‐term sustainability of the fishery by protecting key life‐cycle habitats, such as recruitment areas. In this study, we apply a hurdle Bayesian hierarchical spatio‐temporal model that describes the abundance of European hake (Merluccius merluccius) recruits in the northern continental shelf of the Iberian Peninsula. Our findings clearly show four persistent nurseries, the main one being located along the continental shelf of the Artabrian gulf (off La Coruña). The preferential habitats identified for the hake recruits are areas within a bathymetric range of 120–200 m, with 15–16°C of Sea Surface Temperature, a Chl‐a concentration of 0.8–1.2 mg/m3 and low values of seabed rugosity (unconsolidated substrates). Searching for a compromise with fisheries, we also assess the degree of overlap of the main nursery areas with two fisheries footprints, a local one using Vessel Monitoring System data of trawl fishery of Marín, and a global one using Automatic Identification System data of different type of trawlers (bottom otter, beam and midwater trawls). The two fisheries footprints present different degree of overlapping in distinct areas, highlight the need of specific fleet‐adapted management rules in order to protect juvenile stages. We discuss that understanding the distributional patterns associated with key life stages, such as recruitment, and their interaction with fishing activities, is essential for applying appropriate spatial management measures and improving fishery sustainability.

Using participatory methods to assess data poor migrant fisheries in Kenya

ABSTRACTSpatial information is limited for artisanal fisheries management and almost entirely absent for migrant fishers. Here, we addressed this data gap for East African migrant fishers via participatory mapping methods. We worked with 14 migrant fishing vessels operating from four fish landing sites in Kenya. We monitored individual vessels using GPS tracking to produce fishing ground intensity maps. We then generated fishing preference maps via focus group discussions. The fishing intensity maps provided high-resolution spatial information on fishing activities, whereas the fishing preference maps identified preferred fishing grounds. These two techniques generally showed high agreement. By further integrating these two fisher coproduced maps with supplemental vessel logbook data, it is clear that any spatial management measures would most affect migrant fishers using ringnets, hook and line, and cast nets gear. Our successful application of low-technology participatory mapping techniques to provide geospatial fisheries data have broad application to data poor fisheries worldwide.

Unintended changes of artisanal fisheries métiers upon implementation of an MPA

Establishing marine protected areas (MPAs) is one of the most significant measures governments can take to halt the degradation of marine ecosystems and fisheries overexploitation. Although MPAs can be created with the support of current stakeholders, mainly fishers, implementation of spatial restrictions and of no-take zones in particular, force adjustments to the existing fisheries in the area. The Llevant de Mallorca-Cala Rajada MPA (Spain, Western Mediterranean) was created in 2007 under the patronage of the artisanal fishermen association of Cala Rajada. This study uses onboard observer data of the existing artisanal fisheries practices (métiers), their seasonality and spatial distribution of effort in the area before (2003–2007) and after (2008–2012) MPA designation, to illustrate how fishing restrictions and regulations have changed the structure and dynamics of local fishery métiers, with inshore fishing effort partially reallocated to offshore fishing grounds farther from port. Unforeseen effects of MPA restrictions concerned coastal artisanal métiers – impinging on the smaller boats and the oldest and most knowledgeable fishers – and the expansion of métiers that use newer boats and manned by younger, less experienced fishermen. Studies like this are needed to inform the design of future fisheries spatial management measures for Mediterranean artisanal fisheries that take into account foreseeable socio-economic outcomes and loss of knowledge.

Environmental Impacts of the Deep-Water Oil and Gas Industry: A Review to Guide Management Strategies

The industrialization of the deep sea is expanding worldwide. Expanding oil and gas exploration activities in the absence of sufficient baseline data in these ecosystems has made environmental management challenging. Here, we review the types of activities that are associated with global offshore oil and gas development in water depths over 200 m, the typical impacts of these activities, some of the more extreme impacts of accidental oil and gas releases, and the current state of management in the major regions of offshore industrial activity including 18 exclusive economic zones. Direct impacts of infrastructure installation, including sediment resuspension and burial by seafloor anchors and pipelines, are typically restricted to a radius of approximately 100 m on from the installation on the seafloor. Discharges of water-based and low-toxicity oil-based drilling muds and produced water can extend over 2 km, while the ecological impacts at the population and community levels on the seafloor are most commonly on the order of 200-300 m from their source. These impacts may persist in the deep sea for many years and likely longer for its more fragile ecosystems, such as cold-water corals. This synthesis of information provides the basis for a series of recommendations for the management of offshore oil and gas development. An effective management strategy, aimed at minimizing risk of significant environmental harm, will typically encompass regulations of the activity itself (e.g. discharge practices, materials used), combined with spatial (e.g. avoidance rules and marine protected areas) and temporal measures (e.g. restricted activities during peak reproductive periods). Spatial management measures that encompass representatives of all of the regional deep-sea community types is important in this context. Implementation of these management strategies should consider minimum buffer zones to displace industrial activity beyond the range of typical impacts: at least 2 km from any discharge points and surface infrastructure and 200 m from seafloor infrastructure with no expected discharges. Although managing natural resources is, arguably, more challenging in deep-water environments, inclusion of these proven conservation tools contributes to robust environmental management strategies for oil and gas extraction in the deep sea.

Spatial management measures for disease mitigation as practiced in Scottish aquaculture

Aquaculture is an increasingly important economic activity in coastal waters. The fluid environment means spatial management is an important tool for protecting fish health. Scottish aquaculture (largely Atlantic salmon) uses a range of different types of area to group farms for different management or reporting purposes related to fish health. Farm Management Areas are defined by local knowledge and used by industry for co-operation among groups of farms, including in the management of sea lice. Disease Management Areas, defined using a simple but robust model, are used by the Scottish Government for control of notifiable diseases. Particle dispersal models are used to assess areas affected by treatment residue around farms, and to manage maximum allowable area biomass for environmental protection. Sophisticated models of sea lice transport have been developed to help inform management of this key parasite. Large regional areas are used for a variety of purposes, such as a policy presumption against new farms covering the entire east and north coasts of Scotland, and five reporting areas for official production statistics. Scottish aquatic environments are shared by many interest groups and spatial management is proving essential for sustainable development by aquaculture and other users.

Spatiotemporal patterns of rockfish bycatch in US west coast groundfish fisheries: opportunities for reducing incidental catch of depleted species

Spatial and temporal management measures to reduce nontarget catch are important strategies for rebuilding overfished rockfish (Sebastes spp.) populations in the Northeast Pacific. We describe efforts to support reducing rockfish bycatch in central California trawl fisheries by testing the efficacy of move-on rules on catch data from 2002 to 2010. Move-on rules are regulations or guidelines that trigger the temporary closure of a fishery in a targeted area when a bycatch threshold is reached, without the closure of the entire fishery. Move-on rules based on spatiotemporal autocorrelation (clustering) were effective in reducing bycatch with modest impact on target catch, removing between 35% and 77% of future hauls with bycatch within a specified distance and time of a bycatch-containing haul, while foregoing target catch by an average of 12%. The spatial and temporal peak clustering scales show correlation with the level of schooling behavior by each species; however, the efficiency of the rules measured either in reduction in bycatch hauls or diminished target catch was not strongly affected by those aggregation behaviors. Our analysis provides information for fishers, such as those in the California Risk Pool, in the continuing development of responses that are more refined in both scale and impact.

The comparative biological effects of spatial management measures in protecting marine biodiversity: a systematic review protocol

The global decline of marine biodiversity and the perceived need to protect marine ecosystems from irreparable alterations to ecosystem functioning and ecosystem service provision have produced an extensive range of spatial management measures (SMMs). The design of SMMs is a complex process often involving the integration of both conservation objectives and socio-economic priorities and the resultant trade-offs are highly dependent on the management regime in place. Future marine management is likely to involve greater use of different forms of protected areas with differing levels of protection, particularly for sites where there are multiple competing demands. Consequently, evaluations of the characteristics that enable different forms of SMMs to successfully achieve their objectives are required to inform future conservation networks. The objective of this evidence-based analysis is to assess and compare the biological effects of different forms of SMMs with the aim of providing additional guidelines and insight into the design of future SMMs. SMMs will be grouped into four main categories according to the degree of management enforcement (marine reserve, marine protected area, partial permanent protection, partial temporal protection). To identify and collate evidence to address these questions a comprehensive systematic search of peer-reviewed scientific literature and grey literature will be undertaken. Articles will be examined for relevance using specified inclusion criteria and the included papers will be critically appraised. Studies that examine the effects on an outcome comparing at least one spatial management measure vs no protection (open access area) or between interventions will be considered. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression will be performed to explore variation in biological effects in relation to covariates (SMMs parameters, habitat and species functional and biological traits).

Repeated, long-distance migrations by a philopatric predator targeting highly contrasting ecosystems.

Long-distance movements of animals are an important driver of population spatial dynamics and determine the extent of overlap with area-focused human activities, such as fishing. Despite global concerns of declining shark populations, a major limitation in assessments of population trends or spatial management options is the lack of information on their long-term migratory behaviour. For a large marine predator, the tiger shark Galeocerdo cuvier, we show from individuals satellite-tracked for multiple years (up to 1101 days) that adult males undertake annually repeated, round-trip migrations of over 7,500 km in the northwest Atlantic. Notably, these migrations occurred between the highly disparate ecosystems of Caribbean coral reef regions in winter and high latitude oceanic areas in summer, with strong, repeated philopatry to specific overwintering insular habitat. Partial migration also occurred, with smaller, immature individuals displaying reduced migration propensity. Foraging may be a putative motivation for these oceanic migrations, with summer behaviour showing higher path tortuosity at the oceanic range extremes. The predictable migratory patterns and use of highly divergent ecosystems shown by male tiger sharks appear broadly similar to migrations seen in birds, reptiles and mammals, and highlight opportunities for dynamic spatial management and conservation measures of highly mobile sharks.

Diversity, distribution and spatial structure of the cold-water coral fauna of the Azores (NE Atlantic)

Abstract. Cold-water corals are widely considered as important structural components of benthic habitats, potentially enhancing local abundance in a variety of fish and invertebrate species. Yet, current knowledge of the taxonomic diversity and distribution patterns of these vulnerable, slow-growing organisms is scarce and fragmented, limiting the effectiveness of spatial management and conservation measures. We have conducted an exhaustive compilation of records of alcyonaceans, antipatharians, scleractinians and stylasterids available through present day to assess the diversity, distribution and spatial structure of coral assemblages in the Azores exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The resulting database comprises 2501 entries concerning historical oceanographic expeditions and other published sources, as well as unpublished data from bottom longline by-catch. Our taxonomic inventory appears to be fairly complete for the explored habitats, accounting for 164 species (79 alcyonaceans, 58 scleractinians, 18 antipatharians and 9 stylasterids), nine of which were documented for the first time. The Azores EEZ harbours a mixed coral fauna with several zoogeographic origins, showing the closest affinity with the Lusitanian–Mediterranean region. Very few apparent endemics were found (14%), and only in part supported by consistent sampling. Coral diversity is particularly high between 300 and 900 m depths, in areas recognized as traditional fishing grounds or exploitable fish habitat within the 100-mile limit of the EEZ. The composition of coral assemblages shows significant geographical structure among longitudinal sections of the study area at comparable depths (100–1500 m). There is no evidence of a possible role of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge or latitudinal effects underlying this pattern, which suggests that it may instead reflect assemblage variability among features. Stronger changes in species composition were found along the bathymetric gradient. Notwithstanding the mix of partially overlapping steno- and eurybathic species that characterize the vertical distribution of corals, there is a distinct transition from shallow (100–600 m) to intermediate (600–1000 m) depths. The analysis presented here constitutes a valuable contribution for efficient conservation policies of coral-associated vulnerable marine ecosystems and their sustainable use as fishing areas.

Importance of studying foraging site fidelity for spatial conservation measures in a mobile predator

The efficiency of spatial conservation measures for threatened species depends mostly on the proportion of time that animals spend within the protected areas. We illustrate this with our case study of the population of recolonizing female New Zealand (NZ) sea lions Phocarctos hookeri (n = 13) at Otago Peninsula, South Island, NZ. Human interactions at sea, where sea lions forage, are of concern, and spatial management measures have been proposed. Understanding the level of foraging site fidelity of these animals was consequently essential. We used satellite tracking of individuals across three autumns to assess foraging site fidelity and year-round on-land sighting surveys over 2.5 years as proxy to foraging areas outside autumns. Each individual exhibited a high level of autumnal site fidelity for foraging areas between years (64% overlap between 65% Kernel ranges with a 3-km buffer) while using beaches along a 12-km stretch of coastline during 96 ± 8% (range 79–100%) of their time onshore. As a proxy for foraging areas outside autumns, these animals exhibited a high level of site fidelity to this stretch of coastline throughout the year. Breeding females were sighted there during 86% of months (range = 73–100%) and non-breeding females during 69% of months (range = 58–90%). The site fidelity of these animals indicates that protected areas would be efficient in this case and highlights the importance of studying foraging site fidelity in mobile predators to design efficient conservation measures.

A pilot study of deepwater fish movement with respect to marine reserves

BackgroundThe spatial ecology of deepwater demersal teleosts is poorly understood, and this group of fishes has rarely been studied using conventional or electronic means to discern movement and migration. Likewise, the development of management tools for such species has received less attention as compared to shallow water species, and there are few fishery closed area systems developed for the purpose of managing deepwater demersal fishes. The eteline snappers, which occur in depths of 100 to 400 m, are an important fishery resource throughout the tropical Pacific, and are believed to be vulnerable to over-exploitation.ResultsDeepwater eteline snappers were tagged with acoustic transmitters and detected on a network of listening stations that encompassed a fishery closed area in the Main Hawaiian Islands. Differences were detected in movement between species, with the bentho-pelagic Etelis coruscans moving more frequently and over slightly longer distances (1.4 movements/day detected, interquartile range (IQR) 0.0 – 2.4; maximum distance 4.7 km, interquartile (IQR) 4.7 – 6.4 km) than the demersal Etelis carbunculus (0.0 movements/day detected, interquartile range 0.0 - 0.3; maximum distance 4.7 km, interquartile range 4.6 - 4.7 km). The maximum single movement distance was 8.9 km for E. coruscans and 4.7 km for E. carbunculus. The median length dimension for bottomfish closed areas in the Main Hawaiian Islands is 9.2 km (IQR) range 7.3 – 13.0 km).ConclusionsKnowledge of the spatial ecology of animals is essential to understanding the effects of spatial management measures such as marine reserves. Differences between species indicate that effective reserve size will differ depending on the species. These results suggest that the reserves set up for bottomfish in the Main Hawaiian Islands are likely to have effects in reducing fishing mortality for E. carbunculus due to its low rate of cross border movement.

Incorporating Spatial Structure in Stock Assessment: Movement Modeling in Marine Fish Population Dynamics

Investigations into population structure have been at the forefront of fisheries research for decades, yet it is generally ignored in stock assessment models. As the complex nature of marine population structure has been uncovered, models have attempted to accurately portray it through the development of spatially explicit assessments that allow for movement between sub-populations. Although current tag-integrated movement models are highly complex, many arose from the relatively simple models of Beverton and Holt (1957). This article traces the historical development of these models and compares their features. Originally estimation of movement utilized only tag-recapture models, but now tag-integrated assessment models incorporate several sources of fishery, survey, and tag-recapture information to inform movement estimates. As spatial management measures become more widely used, it is increasingly important that assessment models include the spatial complexities of population structure and patterns of fishery removals, in order for more reliable monitoring of population rebuilding to take place. A generalized metapopulation model is proposed for use in fisheries stock assessment, which allows for adult movement among spatially discrete sub-populations. The input requirements for the model include region-specific catch-at-age, a tag-recapture dataset, and auxiliary information, such as a fishery-independent abundance index.

Closure strategies as a tool for fisheries management in metapopulations subjected to catastrophic events

Abstract Spatial management measures in the form of no‐take areas used in fisheries management can provide a buffer against catastrophic events. Dynamic area closures, like rotational closures, have also been used as a management tool particularly for sessile organisms. In this study, bioeconomic models are developed to investigate dynamic closure strategies for use as a management tool in the harvest of a metapopulation consisting of two local sub‐populations. The models provide an optimal strategy that maximises the sum of discounted net returns with a fixed harvest level [i.e. total allowable catch (TAC)] by opening and closing the sub‐populations of a metapopulation, subject to random negative catastrophic effects. Results showed the optimal policy for opening and closing a single exploited population depends on the degree and pattern of migration between it and other sub‐populations. When the harvest or TAC can be applied to either sub‐population, the optimal closure strategy depends on the abundance of both populations, crucially, even if they are biologically independent. The results provide insights into the management of stochastically fluctuating populations including more mobile species that are frequently not subject to no‐take controls.

A length-structured spatially explicit model for estimating hake growth and migration rates

Despite an abundant literature, hake growth and migration remain poorly understood. A recent tagging campaign and an analysis of the growth increments on juvenile hake otoliths demonstrate that the growth rate has probably been largely underestimated. Migration rates have been studied through qualitative analysis of catch rate, but have not been confirmed by a more-quantitative analysis. Those biological uncertainties affect stock assessments and predictions by the uncertainty they bring to age– length keys and by hindering our ability to assess the impact of spatial management measures. Here, a spatially explicit length-structured model is developed to improve the biological knowledge of European hake (Merluccius merluccius), in terms specifically of migration and growth. The model belongs to the state–space class of models and is fitted by maximum likelihood on commercial landings, survey abundance indices, and tagging data. The estimated growth curve is close to estimates from tagging data, lending weight to the assumption of the species being fast-growing. Few migrations are long in distance, and there are none between the Bay of Biscay and the Celtic Sea. The model also demonstrates a high level of heterogeneity in the spatial distribution of spawning-stock biomass, with concentrations on the margins of the continental shelf.

Combining sensitivity and uncertainty analysis to evaluate the impact of management measures with ISIS–Fish: marine protected areas for the Bay of Biscay anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) fishery

Abstract Lehuta, S., Mahévas, S., Petitgas, P., and Pelletier, D. 2010. Combining sensitivity and uncertainty analysis to evaluate the impact of management measures with ISIS–Fish: marine protected areas for the Bay of Biscay anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) fishery. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 67: 1063–1075. Spatio-seasonal explicit simulation models can predict the impact of spatial management measures on marine fish populations and fishing activities. As fisheries are complex systems, fisheries simulation models are often complex, with many uncertain parameters. Here, the methodology is provided to deliver fishery diagnostics within an uncertainty context using a complex simulation tool. A sensitivity analysis of the model is performed on model outputs using partial least-squares to identify the most sensitive parameters. The impact of several management measures is then simulated using a statistical simulation design taking into account the uncertainty of the selected sensitive parameters. This approach was applied to the Bay of Biscay anchovy stock using the ISIS-Fish (Integration of Spatial Information for Simulation of Fisheries) model to assess the impact of imposing marine protected areas (MPAs) conditionally on parameter uncertainty. The diagnostic appeared to be highly sensitive to the mortality of larvae and juveniles, growth, and reproduction. The uncertainty of the values of these parameters did not permit any of the simulated MPA designs to be proposed. However, according to anchovy catch and biomass, the simulations allowed the low impact of closure duration to be shown and underscored the utility of protecting such key processes as spawning.

The economic efficiency of a time–area closure to protect spawning bluefin tuna

Summary 1. Spatial management measures, such as time–area closures, offer a widely advocated strategy for managing bycatch in fisheries and fisheries that impact particular life‐history stages, like spawning. The effectiveness of proposed management strategies can be evaluated across different policy dimensions of which we focus on one – maximising total profit. We examine whether a time–area closure presents an economically efficient means to manage bycatches of Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus on their spawning ground in the Gulf of Mexico by longline fishermen targeting yellowfin tuna T. albacares. 2. We combine a behavioural representation of bluefin migration with population dynamic models for the two species and an economic representation of relevant fisheries and solve for optimal, equilibrial management strategies. 3. The models predict the western Atlantic bluefin population is close to open access harvesting conditions, and that rebuilding the bluefin population would increase overall economic revenues from the fisheries by 460%, regardless of the specific actions taken in the Gulf. 4. Time–area closures in the Gulf are predicted to be economically costly if there is little scope for recovery of the bluefin stock. However, the models predict such closures would offer limited economic benefits if there were a broader commitment to rebuild the bluefin population. 5. Synthesis and applications. Technological advances and improvements in our understanding of the life history of these and other species make increasingly precise spatial effort control possible in many fisheries. The case study illustrates when such management measures would maximise fisheries profits while accounting for population dynamics and differences in mortality from different fisheries. However, the case study also highlights that the more elementary policy challenge of preventing overfishing has still often to be overcome.

Multi-scale patterns of habitat use in a highly mobile reef fish, the white trevally Pseudocaranx dentex, and their implications for marine reserve design

The fisheries benefits of marine reserves are hard to achieve for highly vagile fish species. An alternative is to protect essential habitats, such as spawning grounds, especially if these are stable over time. We studied the movements and habitat use patterns of white trevally Pseudo- caranx dentex (Carangidae), a commercially important species, to assist in the design of marine reserves. Diel, seasonal and inter-annual movements of trevally were studied using active acoustic tracking, passive acoustic monitoring and standard tag-release in the Faial Channel, Azores Islands. White trevally were captured at inshore and offshore reefs. Inshore trevally moved daily alongshore, using large activity spaces, while the short-term movements of offshore trevally were restricted to the reef summits. During the summer spawning season, both groups displayed frequent migrations of up to several kilometres, but inshore fish remained inshore, whereas offshore reef fish expanded their range to include visits to inshore sites. This behaviour eventually resulted in low long-term residence within the study area, especially that of inshore fish. During the spawning season, one inshore site was visited by most of the fish. However, instead of gathering in large aggregations at a single location, it appears that the trevally adopted a multiple-site visiting behaviour, which may increase mating opportunities through mixing between inshore and offshore fish that are otherwise segre- gated for most of the year. Protection of spawning biomass and sites for this species seems potentially feasible, but this would require protecting a suite of sites per island. Furthermore, because fish would not be fully protected under this scenario, we argue that such spatial management measures need to be accompanied by conventional fishing-effort control measures applied to all local populations.

An Overview of Spatial Management and Marine Protected Areas in the East China Sea

Marine ecosystems of the East China Sea are rich in biodiversity, with 12,933 species of which approximately 47.7% are endemic. As anthropogenic impacts are intensifying, fishery resources and biodiversity in the East China Sea are under threat from overfishing, habitat loss, pollution, and biological invasions. Marine protected areas (MPAs) and other spatial management measures are believed useful tools to protect and restore biological resources. Seventeen nature reserves, seven special marine reserves, and three fishery resource conservation zones covering a combined area of 102,156 km2 have so far been established in the Chinese East China Sea in order to protect fishery resources, biodiversity, and marine landscapes. This article provides a review and inventory of MPAs in the Chinese East China Sea as implemented by the People's Republic of China.

Ecosystem model predictions of fishery and conservation trade-offs resulting from marine protected areas in the East China Sea

SUMMARYThe East China Sea (ECS) supports a highly productive fishery and is rich in biodiversity, but economic development in China and peripheral countries has led to intensifying anthropogenic impacts in the ECS. In response to this the Chinese government has introduced a range of marine spatial management measures. A spatial ecosystem model (Ecospace) of the ECS was developed to examine (1) the likely nature of trade-offs between fishery and conservation goals resulting from the marine protected areas (MPAs) and (2) possible trade-offs within the fishery sector resulting from the MPAs. The results suggest that overall the fishery has benefited from all of the simulated MPAs, whereas, although they defy categorical interpretation, effects of the MPAs on biodiversity and ecosystem structure are variable. Simultaneous application of several metrics of ecosystem status indicates that the perceived effect of an MPA on ecosystem status can depend on which metrics for ecosystem status are used, and how these metrics are interpreted. The simulations indicate that a fisheries and conservation outcome beneficial to all is possible, but not guaranteed, with the creation of an MPA. Total landings and profitability are predicted to have increased as a result of each of the MPAs, albeit at the cost of reduced landings and profits to some sectors of the fishery. This study demonstrates the benefits of the additional information relating to biodiversity, ecosystem structure and within fishery dynamics available from spatial ecosystem models compared to the single species models typically used to examine MPA effects. However, the use of a more complex ecosystem model introduces additional uncertainty in model interpretation.

Port location for inshore fleets affects the sustainability of coastal source–sink resources: Implications for spatial management of metapopulations

This paper focuses on the consequences of a geographical differentiation in reproductive potential through a species range not being recognized in the management of a coastal fishery resource. A dynamic spatial model with age-structure and bioeconomic components was built to explore the potential effects of fishing port location on metapopulations with a source–sink structure. Management of this type of fishery using marine protected areas (MPA) with or without considering the location of source and sink components is also addressed. An array of unit areas for a multi-age semi-sedentary resource was fed with recruits generated by a Beverton–Holt spawner–recruit relationship driven by the adult biomass in a source area. This contributes recruits both to source areas, and adjacent sink areas which do not produce recruits. Recruits are allocated to unit areas in the array according to a negative binomial distribution, allowing age structures to build up in each. Exploitation is from one of two ports, either situated close to the source area or distant from it; it being assumed (as for inshore fleets) that distance traveled is a key variable. Effort exerted per unit area is therefore determined by dynamic site-specific profits. Because fishing costs increase with distance, the alternative port locations are predicted to have substantially different impacts on biological and economic performance variables when there are no spatial management measures in place. Closing half the source area to fishing mitigates substantially the effect of port location, and improves all performance variables regardless of port location. The greatest positive impacts of a closure occur where the main port harvesting the resource is the one nearest the source area being protected. When a spatial closure is applied, the average distance harvesters travel from a port close to the source is predicted to increase for all levels of fishing intensity, while distances traveled by fishermen from a port near the sink areas are predicted to decrease. If an MPA is established outside the source area, it is predicted to result in deteriorating production and net revenues because fishing intensity will tend to increase in the unrestricted source area.