Plenty more fish in the sea? Environmental protections account for around 10 percent of fish stocks on coral reefs
Professor Cinner, Director of the Thriving Oceans Research Hub, said:"Millions of people depend on reef fish for their livelihoods and nutrition. However, overfishing is severely threatening the wellbeing of coastal communities right across the globe. Protection can help boost fish stocks and have flow-on benefits for people.
Marine Protected Areas are sections of the ocean in which a government has placed restrictions on human activity and are a much-touted tool for preserving marine habitats. Currently, MPAs only cover a fraction of the world's oceans, but this is set to expand rapidly in coming years. Dr Iain Caldwell, from the Wildlife Conservation Society, said:"No-take zones are punching above their weight, especially when they are well complied with, but they aren't the only way to increase fish populations. While prohibiting fishing provides the biggest boost to fish biomass per unit area protected, other forms of fisheries management can also be effective and may be more amenable for people who depend on reef fish for their lives and livelihoods.
Professor Cinner said:"Fisheries restrictions aren't as effective as no-take MPAs on a per area basis, but they tend to be less controversial with fishers, which means compliance can be better, and they can be implemented at very large scales. Sustaining coral reef fish populations will require using every tool in the toolbox."Iain R. Caldwell, Tim R. McClanahan, Remy M. Oddenyo, Nicholas A.J. Graham, Maria Beger, Laurent Vigliola, Stuart A. Sandin, Alan M.