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Illegal harvesting affects the success of fishing closure areas

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2010

Gustavo M. Martins ,
Stuart R. Jenkins ,
Stephen J. Hawkins ,
Ana I. Neto ,
André R. Medeiros  and
Richard C. Thompson
Gustavo M. Martins*
Affiliation:
Secção Biologia Marinha, Departamento Biologia, Universidade dos Açores, 9501-801 Ponta Delgada, Açores, Portugal Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, Marine Institute, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
Stuart R. Jenkins
Affiliation:
School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB, UK Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
Stephen J. Hawkins
Affiliation:
School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB, UK Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
Ana I. Neto
Affiliation:
Secção Biologia Marinha, Departamento Biologia, Universidade dos Açores, 9501-801 Ponta Delgada, Açores, Portugal Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIIMAR), Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal
André R. Medeiros
Affiliation:
Secção Biologia Marinha, Departamento Biologia, Universidade dos Açores, 9501-801 Ponta Delgada, Açores, Portugal
Richard C. Thompson
Affiliation:
Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, Marine Institute, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: G.M. Martins, Secção Biologia Marinha, Departamento Biologia, Universidade dos Açores, 9501-801 Ponta Delgada, Açores, Portugal email: gmartins@uac.pt
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Abstract

There is clear evidence that marine reserves can be used as effective tools to foster the recovery of disturbed ecosystems. In the Azores, intense exploitation of the patellid limpets Patella candei and P. aspera has led to a rapid decline in their populations and subsequent collapse of the fishery in 1985. In 1993, legislation was passed to protect limpets, including the establishment of limpet protected zones (LPZs) where harvesting was completely prohibited. Outside LPZs, a seasonal fishing closure prohibited the harvesting of limpets from October to May. Here we examine the effect of such measures 16 years after they were put into practice. In each of the 3 years examined, limpet density, biomass and size were generally similar both inside and outside the LPZs. In addition, there were clear signs of exploitation as most individual limpets inside the LPZ were smaller than the legal catch size suggesting that illegal harvesting was taking place. Observations confirmed that illegal harvesting of limpets was common both inside and outside LPZs. Lack of enforcement of regulations is therefore a likely reason for the failure of legislation to protect limpet populations and facilitate stock recovery.

Keywords

exploitationmarine protected areas (MPAs)limpet protected zones (LPZs)seasonal-fishing closuresPatellalimpet harvestingpoaching
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 91 , Issue 4 , June 2011 , pp. 929 - 937
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2010

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