Díaz, D. (David)

Goñi, R. (Raquel)

Mallol, S. (Sandra)

English

Repositorio Institucional Digital del IEO

Restoration, conservation and planningRevista de Investigación Marina, 2012, 19(6) |  599Evolution of the spiny lobster Palinurus elephas in a temperate protected area over two decadesRaquel Goñi, David Díaz and Sandra MallolThe European spiny lobster Palinurus elephas is the most sought after spiny lobster species in the NE Atlantic and Mediterranean and its populations are depleted throughout its range. As a slow growing species with low fecundity and a high unit value that makes fishing profitable at low densities, it is under consideration by the IUCN to be listed as endangered.  P. elephas has been unfished in the Columbretes Islands Marine Reserve (the MPA) (Western Mediterranean) since its creation in 1990. The MPA harbours 55 km2 of coraligenous and maërl grounds, largely closed to all extractive activities.  A monitoring study started 7 years after MPA creation with the aim of assessing the evolution of P. elephas in the MPA relative to reference areas open to fishing.  Continued monitoring up to year 20 of protection has provided a unique oportunity to assess the evolution of the unfished population for a period close to the life span of the species. During 14 years we have documented the continued recovery of biomass and demography while abundance has remained stable for the last decade, which we partially attribute to dispersion imbalance sue to spillover. Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares- Instituto Español de OceanografíaMuelle de Poniente s/n 07015 Palma de Mallorca, Spain*e-mail: raquel.goni@ba.ieo.es

Evolution of the spiny lobster Palinurus elephas in a temperate protected area over two decades

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Repositorio Institucional Digital del IEO

Digital.CSIC