Can restrictions in Mediterranean artisanal fisheries be beneficial for target species?

Abstract

Bušelić I., Stagličić N., Lloret J., Matić-Skoko S. 2015 Results. The establishment of partial reserves in both MPAs, with different regulations imposed on professional and recreational fishing has not proven successful in achieving benefits for a sedentary, relatively long-lived target species such as Phycis phycis. Results of multi-annual research indicate no significant difference in the abundance, mean size, or age of P. phycis between the fishing zones of different protection levels in either of the studied MPAs. Conclusion. In order to achieve the desired benefits for coastal fisheries resources, we recommend that partial fishing reserves are supplemented with integrated networks of no-take zones.

The Use of Fish Assemblages as Reserve Effect Indicators for Small Mpas. A Case Study in Southern Spain (Strait of Gibraltar)

“…Blenniidae, Gobiidae or Labridae), have been proposed in order to detect the reserve effect at small scales, as they may be intendedly or unintendedly extracted by recreational and commercial fishing [17,18]. On the other hand, low-mobility species of commercial interest could be [19,20]. Finally, fish species with schooling behaviour tend to approach to divers and come up several times during samplings and they are not indicated for rapid assessment methods carried out by divers or snorkelers, which are commonly used on citizen science [21,22].The present study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a small MPA in terms of fish abundance.…”