Browsing by Author "Mace, Jullian"
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- Assessment of the fish communities of the largest coastal reef of the Algarve (Portugal) to contribute to a future Marine Protected AreaPublication . Mace, Jullian; Horta e Costa, Bárbara BastosMarine protected areas (MPAs) have been widely used as a conservation and fisheries management tool to protect fish and habitats. Measuring the effects of an MPA is difficult in dynamic and changing areas such as coastal areas. Yet, assessing the effects of the implementation of an MPA is essential to evaluate its performance in meeting its goals. For that, baseline information (before data) is critical to detect any pre-existing differences between future protection zones and disentangle habitat-associated effects from those related to the protection measures when the MPA is established. Thus, we carried out an assessment of commercial demersal fish and invertebrate communities in the largest coastal reef of the Algarve to contribute to a future MPA: the future Marine Park of the Algarve Reef, also know as AMPIC (marine protected area of community interest). This future MPA results of an innovative participatory approach that took almost 3 years involving over 70 stakeholders. The aim of this study was to obtain a first comprehensive database for the different zones to be implemented in the area, with ecological data retrieved by Stereo Baited Remote Underwater Video. Such data can be used in the future to assess the ecological effects of the MPA. We compared sites within future no-take zones with those with extractive activities, and the differences in richness, abundance, length and biomass were analyzed at community and species level. The influence of the effect of habitat complexity was accounted to distinguish it from the effect of future protection measures. Our results from the mulivariate statistics suggest the presence of pre-existing statistical differences among the proposed zones of this future protected area. Indeed, total abondance, abundance of target species above the Minimum Landing Size (MLS) and non-target species were significantly higher within the future no-take zones. This study highlights some previous differences and allows avoiding an overvaluation of the future protection measures, when implemented. Our before assessment allows conducting a Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) approach in the future, when the MPA is implemented, which is desirable for an effective monitoring. This will also allow adapting the protection measures, if necessary, and contribute to a better MPA.