Disentangling the response of fishes to recreational fishing over 30 years within a fringing coral reef reserve network

Cresswell, A.K. and Langlois, T.J. and Wilson, S.K. and Claudet, J. and Thomson, D.P. and Renton, M. and Fulton, C.J. and Fisher, R. and Vanderklift, M.A. and Babcock, R.C. and Stuart-Smith, R.D. and Haywood, M.D.E. and Depczynski, M. and Westera, M. and Ayling, A.M. and Fitzpatrick, B. and Halford, A.R. and McLean, D.L. and Pillans, R.D. and Cheal, A.J. and Tinkler, P. and Edgar, G.J. and Graham, N.A.J. and Harvey, E.S. and Holmes, T.H. (2019) Disentangling the response of fishes to recreational fishing over 30 years within a fringing coral reef reserve network. Biological Conservation, 237. pp. 514-524. ISSN 0006-3207

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Abstract

Few studies assess the effects of recreational fishing in isolation from commercial fishing. We used meta-analysis to synthesise 4444 samples from 30 years (1987–2017) of fish surveys inside and outside a large network of highly protected reserves in the Ningaloo Marine Park, Western Australia, where the major fishing activity is recreational. Data were collected by different agencies, using varied survey designs and sampling methods. We contrasted the relative abundance and biomass of target and non-target fish groups between fished and reserve locations. We considered the influence of, and possible interactions between, seven additional variables: age and size of reserve, one of two reserve network configurations, reef habitat type, recreational fishing activity, shore-based fishing regulations and survey method. Taxa responded differently: the abundance and biomass inside reserves relative to outside was higher for targeted lethrinids, while other targeted (and non-targeted) fish groups were indistinguishable. Reef habitat was important for explaining lethrinid response to protection, and this factor interacted with reserve size, such that larger reserves were demonstrably more effective in the back reef and lagoon habitats. There was little evidence of changes in relative abundance and biomass of fishes with reserve age, or after rezoning and expansion of the reserve network. Our study demonstrates the complexities in quantifying fishing effects, highlighting some of the key factors and interactions that likely underlie the varied results in reserve assessments that should be considered in future reserve design and assessment.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Biological Conservation
Additional Information:
This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Biological Conservation. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Biological Conservation, 237, 2019 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2019.06.023
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1100/1105
Subjects:
?? marine protected areampafisheriescoral reefningalooadaptive managementrecreational fishinglethrinusecology, evolution, behavior and systematicsnature and landscape conservation ??
ID Code:
136144
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
09 Sep 2019 15:00
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
11 Jan 2024 00:21