Mar

1

2008
 
 

Hitting the buffers



Empirical evidence finally matches what theorists have long suspected

Life on the rocksBig old marine reserves are best, according to Joachim Claudet and colleagues in their recent Ecology Letters paper. Using original data spanning 33 years of European marine conservation effort, the University of Perpignan researcher’s team found that the reasons why some reserves enhance fish density and biodiversity, but others don’t, largely rests on two simple factors: how large the protected areas is and how long it’s been protected for. Conversely, the study suggested that a large buffer zone, where limited fishing is allowed, reduces the effectiveness of the reserve it surrounds. Much of the artisanal fishing goes on in the buffer zone, and their presence is linked to a complex set of social, ecological and economic influences. One way to hang onto them would be to increase the size of the protected area: a win-win situation perhaps? Source: Claudet J, Osenberg CW, Benedetti-Cecchi L, Domenici P, García-Charton J-A, Pérez-Ruzafa A, Badalamenti F, Bayle-Sempere J, Brito A, Bulleri F, Culioli J-M, Dimech M, Falcón JM, Guala I, Milazzo M, Sánchez-Meca J, Somerfield PJ, Stobart B, Vandeperre F, Valle C & Planes S (2008) Marine reserves: size and age do matter. Ecology Letters DOI: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2008.01166.x

Image © Christina Deridder

Filed Under Endangered species, Restoration, Marine, Economics and conservation, Community-based conservation, Socio-political issues | 

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