Small-sized and well-enforced Marine Protected Areas provide ecological benefits for piscivorous fish populations worldwide

• Published in: Marine environmental research Vol. 149; pp. 100 - 110
• Main Authors: Rojo, Irene, Sánchez-Meca, Julio, García-Charton, José A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-08-2019; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Adult maximum body size; Animals; Biomass; Commercial value; Conservation; Conservation of Natural Resources - statistics & numerical data; Density; Ecological effects; Ecological monitoring; Ecological Parameter Monitoring - statistics & numerical data; Enforcement; Fish; Fish populations; Fish Products; Fisheries; Fisheries management; Fishery management; Fishes; Fishing; Latitude; Local population; Marine Biology; Marine ecology; Marine parks; Marine protected areas; MPA enforcement; MPA size; Piscivores; Populations; Protected areas; Protected species; Protection; Schooling behaviour; Social behaviour; Threatened species; MPA enforcement; Schooling behaviour; Commercial value; MPA size; Conservation; Adult maximum body size; Fishery management; Latitude
• ISSN: 0141-1136; 1879-0291
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.06.005

Many piscivorous fish species are depleted and/or threatened around the world. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are tools for conservation and fisheries management, though there is still controversy regarding the best design for increasing their ecological effectiveness. Here, on the basis of a weighted meta-analytical approach, we have assessed the effect of 32 MPAs, distributed worldwide, on the biomass and density of piscivorous fishes. We analysed the MPA features and the biological, commercial and ecological characteristics of fishes that may affect the response of species to protection. We found a positive effect on the biomass and density of piscivores inside MPAs. This effect was stronger for the biomass of medium-sized fishes (in relation to the maximum size reported for the species) and the density of large and gregarious species. The size of the no-take zone had a significant negative impact on both response variables and differed according to the level of enforcement, with smaller no-take zones having higher levels of enforcement. Thus, MPAs help to protect piscivorous fish species, with smaller, but well enforced reserves being more effective for the protection of the local populations of piscivorous fishes throughout the world.
•Marine Protected Areas benefit piscivorous fish in terms of density and biomass.•Small-sized and well-enforced reserves are effective conservation tools worldwide.•Large and gregarious piscivorous fish species benefit most from protection measures.