Marine protected area improves yield without disadvantaging fishers

Sven E. Kerwath (), Henning Winker, Albrecht Götz and Colin G. Attwood
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Sven E. Kerwath: Forestry and Fisheries, Fisheries Research and Development
Henning Winker: Marine Research Institute, University of Cape Town
Albrecht Götz: Elwandle Node, South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON)
Colin G. Attwood: Marine Research Institute, University of Cape Town

Nature Communications, 2013, vol. 4, issue 1, 1-6

Abstract: Abstract Potential fishery benefits of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are widely acknowledged, yet seldom demonstrated, as fishery data series that straddle MPA establishment are seldom available. Here we postulate, based on a 15-year time series of nation-wide, spatially referenced catch and effort data, that the establishment of the Goukamma MPA (18 km alongshore; 40 km2) benefited the adjacent fishery for roman (Chrysoblephus laticeps), a South African endemic seabream. Roman-directed catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) in the vicinity of the new MPA immediately increased, contradicting trends across this species’ distribution. The increase continued after 5 years, the time lag expected for larval export, effectively doubling the pre-MPA CPUE after 10 years. We find no indication that establishing the MPA caused a systematic drop in total catch or increased travel distances for the fleet. Our results provide rare empirical evidence of rapidly increasing catch rates after MPA implementation without measurable disadvantages for fishers.

Date: 2013
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3347

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