Review of the effects of protection in marine protected areas: current knowledge and gaps

The effectiveness of marine protected areas (MPAs) and the conservation of marine environments must be based on reliable information on the quality of the marine environment that can be obtained in a reasonable timeframe. We reviewed studies that evaluated all aspects related to the effectiveness of MPAs in order to describe how the studies were conducted and to detect fields in which research is lacking. Existing parameters used to evaluate the effectiveness of MPAs are summarised. Two–hundred and twenty–two publications were reviewed. We identified the most commonly used study subjects and methodological approaches. Most of the studies concentrated on biological parameters. Peer reviewed studies were based on control vs. impact design. BACI and mBACI designs were used in very few studies. Through this review, we have identified gaps in the objectives assigned to MPAs and the way in which they have been evaluated. We suggest some guidelines aimed at improving the assessment of the effects of protection in MPAsRevisión de los efectos de la protección en las áreas marinas protegidas: conocimiento y deficiencias actuales.— La efectividad de las áreas marinas protegidas (AMPs) y la conservación del medio ambiente marino debe basarse en información fiable sobre la calidad del medio marino que pueda obtenerse en un plazo de tiempo razonable. Se revisaron estudios que evalúan aspectos relacionados con la efectividad de las AMPs con el fin de describir cómo se realizaron los estudios y detectar donde existen vacíos en la investigación. En este estudio se enumeran los parámetros existentes para evaluar la efectividad de las AMPs. Se revisaron 224 publicaciones. Identificamos los objetos de estudio más utilizados y los enfoques metodológicos. La mayoría de los estudios se centran en el estudio de parámetros biológicos. Los estudios publicados se basaron en el diseño control frente a impacto. En muy pocos estudios se utilizaron diseños de muestreo BACI y mBACI. A través de esta revisión, se han identificado deficiencias en los objetivos de las AMPs y en la manera como han sido evaluados. Como conclusión sugerimos algunas pautas para mejorar la evaluación de los efectos de la protección en estas zonasPublicado

Marine reserves: Fish life history and ecological traits matter

Copyright by the Ecological Society of AmericaMarine reserves are assumed to protect a wide range of species from deleterious effects stemming from exploitation. However, some species, due to their ecological characteristics, may not respond positively to protection. Very little is known about the effects of life history and ecological traits (e.g., mobility, growth, and habitat) on responses of fish species to marine reserves. Using 40 data sets from 12 European marine reserves, we show that there is significant variation in the response of different species of fish to protection and that this heterogeneity can be explained, in part, by differences in their traits. Densities of targeted size-classes of commercial species were greater in protected than unprotected areas. This effect of protection increased as the maximum body size of the targeted species increased, and it was greater for species that were not obligate schoolers. However, contrary to previous theoretical findings, even mobile species with wide home ranges benefited from protection: the effect of protection was at least as strong for mobile species as it was for sedentary ones. Noncommercial bycatch and unexploited species rarely responded to protection, and when they did (in the case of unexploited bentho-pelagic species), they exhibited the opposite response: their densities were lower inside reserves. The use of marine reserves for marine conservation and fisheries management implies that they should ensure protection for a wide range of species with different life-history and ecological traits. Our results suggest this is not the case, and instead that effects vary with economic value, body size, habitat, depth range, and schooling behavior.Publicado

GECOMARS : International workshop on ecosystem based management, Marseille, France, 4-5 February 2020

GECOMARS.International Workshop on Ecosystem Based Management, Marseille, FRA, 04-/02/2020 - 05/02/2020The 'species-by-species', or 'stock-by-stock' approach in the case of fisheries, characterized the 20th century ecology. The ecosystem-based approach, which in the case of fisheries emerged at the end of the 20th century, represents the 'new frontier', the 21st century revolution in ecology. According to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the ecosystem-based approach (EA) should enable us to understand and assess the functioning of marine and coastal ecosystems and their dependent services. As an integrated management process, this strategy promotes both conservation and sustainable use and provides benefits in a more equitable way via the social-ecosystem concept. First used for fisheries management, the EA has become a valuable tool for ecosystem services assessment and for marine protected areas (MPA) monitoring and governance, especially in the Mediterranean Sea but it could also be considered in the spatial planning and the management of other coastal areas. The perception that humans belong to ecosystems (socio-ecosystems) is a key feature of the EA and the catastrophic events due to anthropic pressures, in the global change context, remind us the price to pay. The aim of organizing a Workshop on Ecosystembased Management in Marseille was to create the opportunity to gather managers, stakeholders and scientists to discuss this crucial topic within the framework of the Integrated LIFE Marha project, headed by the French Office of Biodiversity and funded by the European Union. Aix Marseille University, Pythéas and the Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography, the Marseille's city Tourism Office and Toulon Provence Metropole have also supported the organization of the event. The upcoming challenge, in the current Global change, is to move forward to a suitable and carbon free management and use of our natural ecosystems. Only a concern at the Ecosystem scale will make it possible

A terrestrial and marine nature reserve in the NW Mediterranean, Scàndula (Corsica): Biodiversity and lessons from 46 years of management

International audienc

A terrestrial and marine nature reserve in the NW Mediterranean, Scàndula (Corsica): Biodiversity and lessons from 46 years of management

International audienc

A terrestrial and marine nature reserve in the NW Mediterranean, Scàndula (Corsica): Biodiversity and lessons from 46 years of management

International audienc