Mediterranean Marine Reserves: Fish Indices as Tests of Protection Efficiency

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0485.1995.tb00408.x
• Publication Date: 2008-05-13T08:36:03Z
• Authors: J.‐G. Harmelin; F. Bachet; F. Garcia
• Keywords: Diplodus; Marine reserve; Marine protected area

Abstract. The fish assemblages of a strictly protected area and neighbouring fished area, located off Mediterranean urbanized coast (Carry‐le‐Rouet, France), were compared in order to select the most evident, constant, easily recorded indices ‘reserve effect’. Visual censusing was repeated simultaneously at both sites eight time year during 3 years along four permanent transects layed on shallow rocky bottoms (9–14 m). Overall species richness 16% higher reserve, but differences average instantaneous only marginally significant. contrasting results shown by occurrence frequency, abundance, demographic structure two types target species. type A group comprises 16 large meso‐ macrocarnivores particularly threatened spearfishing, including common nectobenthic sparids Diplodus spp. Type B are represented small territorial fishes impacted angling: serranid Serranus cabrilla terminal phase males labrid Coris julis . size spp., S. , C.julis subpopulations strongly argues for role areas as reservoir spawners. Fishing pressure is assumed modify social conditions C. local populations induce earlier sex change.