Fully-protected marine reserves are areas of the sea completely protected from fishing and other extractive or harmful human uses. Since the first fully-protected reserves were established, more than two decades ago, they have stimulated a wealth of research and intense interest. Recent scientific evidence indicates that reserves are not only powerful tools for conservation, but can also provide much needed support for fisheries. There is an urgent need for more reserves in order to address the developing crisis in the oceans. Worldwide, fisheries are in trouble, and habitats and species are being lost at an alarming rate. However, decision makers need good scientific information on how to make reserves work successfully.

There is no doubt that fishing is causing major problems in the sea. Some species that once supported valuable fisheries, such as Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus), southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) and the boccacio rockfish (Sebastes paucispinus) have declined so much they are now included on the World Conservation Union’s Red List of Threatened Animals. However a species does not need to be rare, or specifically targeted, to be at risk from fishing. Over-exploitation has indirectly caused the decline of many species that have no commercial importance. Fully-protected marine reserves provide an excellent opportunity to protect species from the deleterious effects of over-fishing. In this section we concentrate on how no-take areas can help regenerate biodiversity that has been lost to fishing. In certain situations the establishment of a reserve might come too late to help some species recover. While such failure is disappointing, it only helps emphasize the urgent need for more reserves to stem biodiversity loss. If reserves fail to restore certain species to an area, it is most likely because of previous misuse.

 

The Guide includes the following sections:

 

1. Preface 5
2. Introduction 6
3. Why should reserves be protected from fishing? 9
4. Fully-protected reserves in a nutshell 13
5. What is the evidence for recovery of animal populations in marine reserves? 16
6. What is the evidence for spillover from marine reserves? 21
7. Do reserves increase reproductive output and recruitment of animal populations? 25
8. How useful are marine reserves as tools for conservation? 28
9. Are fully-protected reserves beneficial to migratory species? 31
10. How long will it take before reserves produce benefits? 34
11. How can fishers be helped through the economic transition following reserve creation? 37
12. Will redirected fishing effort undermine the benefits of reserve establishment? 40
13. How large should a marine reserve be? 42
14. How much of the sea should be protected from fishing? 44
15. Where should reserves be located? 52
16. Why is it important to network reserves? 57
17. Should marine reserves be temporary, rotated or permanent? 59
18. Will fully-protected reserves work in temperate waters? 61
19. Tourism and marine reserves 63
20. What other activities can be permitted in fully-protected reserves? 66
21. How do you assess if reserves are effective? 68
22. Will reserves simplify fishery management? 70
23. How can you best gain support for reserves? 72
24. How can you reach agreement to establish reserves? 75
25. Who should manage reserves? 80
26. How should reserves be enforced? 82
27. How can reserves be financed? 85
28. Conclusions 88
29. Getting hold of further information 90

Thirteen Detailed Case Studies are provided in the Guide. Here are three summarized:

 

Saba Marine Park, Netherlands Antilles

No-take restrictions protect tourism asset

 

The volcanic island of Saba lies in the eastern Caribbean and rises precipitously to 900m. It covers only 11km2 and has a low population of approximately 1,800 residents. Both factors are significant in enabling Saba to have a marine park which surrounds the entire island and a no-take fishing zone which is almost 100% effective! The marine park is operated by a non-governmental organization and has the distinction of being the world’s first self-funding marine park. Plans for the park began in 1984 in response to the island government’s request for help in managing its marine resources. It took just under three years to develop a fully zoned management plan and raise funds to establish the park. During that time there was intense consultation with the island’s fishers to alleviate their concerns about why the park was being set up and how it would affect them. By the time the park was opened it had gained almost universal support and that popularity has never faltered.

 

De Hoop Marine Protected Area, South Africa

Reserve that links land and sea provides many benefits

De Hoop lies in the warm temperate zone of the Western Cape Province and is the most southerly marine reserve on the African continental shelf. It was proclaimed a marine protected area in January 1985. The reserve measures 50 km along the shore and extends three nautical miles seaward. The intertidal area comprises sandy beaches, wave-cut sandstone platforms and rocky headlands. Vast quantities of sand are continuously shifted from the land to the sea and vice versa, covering and uncovering reefs over periods varying from days to years. The sub-tidal habitat includes low profile sandstone reefs and soft sediment.

 

Marine Reserves in Tasmania, Australia: Governor Island, Maria Island, Tinderbox and Ninepin Point

Reserves reveal how fishing has transformed marine ecosystems of southern Australia

 

In late 1991, four fully-protected marine reserves were declared on the east and south-east coast of Tasmania, Australia. The largest, at Maria Island, covers 7km of coast. This reserve includes many marine habitats typical of the east coast and was established to conserve a broad range of biodiversity. Ninepin is smaller, only 1kmlong, and was designed to protect a single, unusual habitat. The two other reserves,Tinderbox and Governor Island are 2km and 1km long respectively, and were declared to promote recreation. Although the reserves were set up to fulfill a variety of objectives, a common expectation was that each would restore populations of overexploited species such as rock lobsters (Jasus edwardsii), black-lip abalone (Haliotis rubra) and large fish.Six years of protection have brought severalchanges to Maria Island Reserve. The number of fish species increased by 5%,whereas in nearby unprotected areas it fell by23%. Most of the new species were large andhad suffered badly from overfishing. Theyincluded the bastard trumpeter (Latridopsisforsteri), ling (Genypterus tigerinus) and draughtboard shark (Cephaloscylliumlaticeps). Diversity of mobile invertebrates and algae also increased at Maria Island by 25% and 11% respectively, whilst falling by7% and 5% in fishing grounds. However, there were no changes in the number of species for any of these three groups at Governor Island or Ninepin Point, while at Tinderbox, only the number of large fish species increased.

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