Assessing the impact of removing reserve status on the Abore Reef fish assemblage in New Caledonia

Abstract

We propose a statistical approach based on multivariate analysis and general linear models to test the consequences of removal of reserve status from the Abore Reef fish assemblage of the Abore Reef reserve, New Caledonia. Consequences on fish density were examined at the level of fish assemblage, accounting for habitat. Fish counts and habitat-related information were collected before and after the removal of reserve status, both inside and outside the reserve. Species groups were constructed on the basis of additional information on behavioural characteristics and taxonomy. The impact of the removal of reserve status was assessed by using 2 habitat proxies corresponding to 2 spatial scales and by considering several criteria for grouping species. Habitat appeared to be a determining factor in explaining density variations. Significant positive effects were found for several species groups such as macrocarnivores, piscivores, herbivores, Lethrinidae and Siganidae. A counterintuitive negative effect was observed for Acanthuridae. No significant differences between the area which remained closed to fishing and the area open to fishing were found for the other species groups. The approach allows for a synoptic diagnosis of the impact of changes in reserve status at the fish assemblage level. It could be used to develop and select potential indicators for monitoring such impacts on fish assemblages in coral reef ecosystems and in other contexts.

Sustaining small-scale fisheries with periodically harvested marine reserves

“…stocks displayed a 13-fold increase within the closed areas and a fivefold increase in adjacent fished areas, where fishers also experienced a doubling in catch per unit effort [71]. Conversely species that have larger home ranges and long-lived or widely dispersing larvae would be less likely to be significantly protected or to self-recruit to small reserves [72][73][74]. Such species are, however, still of importance to small-scale fishers and this emphasizes the importance of employing management strategies alternative to or in conjunction with closures (discussed in Section 6).…”

“…In Fiji, harvesting of a closure caused significant depletions of the primary fishing targets; Acanthuridae, Carangidae, Lutjanidae and Serranidae [85]. Fishing after the removal of reserve status of Abore reef, New Caledonia, led to greatest declines in Lethrinidae and Siganidae [72]. Populations of herbivores, piscivores and macrocarnivores all significantly declined yet affects were variable between families within these functional groups.…”

Integrating Marine Protected Areas in fisheries management systems: some criteria for ecological efficiency

“…Stopping fishing inside reserves could also lead to trophic cascade, increased predation (Fanshawe et al 2003; David et al 2010;Ferraris et al 2005;Guillemot et al 2009;Jollit et al 2010;Preuss et al 2009;Wantiez et al 1997. Guidetti 2006;Saintilan et al 2008), and unforeseen changes in the structure of communities rather than to the reconstruction of targeted populations.…”

Video transects as a complement to underwater visual census to study reserve effect on fish assemblages

“…The evaluation of their performance can be reviewed through (1) monitoring of the density and biomass of the targeted species (e.g. Côté et al 2001, Ferraris et al 2005, Claudet et al 2011 or (2) biodiversity indicators, such as environmental health and the functioning of ecosystems (Bianchi & Morri 2000, Hilty & Merenlende 2000.…”