Martin, TSH, Connolly, RM, Olds, AD et al. (4 more authors) (2017) Subsistence harvesting by a small community does not substantially compromise coral reef fish assemblages. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 74 (8). pp. 2191-2200. ISSN 1054-3139
Abstract
Fisheries usually first remove large predators before switching to smaller species, causing lasting changes to fish community structure. Reef fish provide essential protein and income for many people, and the impacts of commercial and high-intensity subsistence fishing on reef fish are well documented. However, how fish communities respond to low levels of subsistence fishing using traditional techniques (fishing for food, few fishers) is less well understood. We use three atolls in the Marshall Islands as a model system to quantify effects of commercial and subsistence fishing on reef fish communities, compared to a near-pristine baseline. Unexpectedly, fish biomass was highest on the commercially-fished atoll where the assemblage was dominated by herbivores (50% higher than other atolls) and contained few top predators (70% lower than other atolls). By contrast, fish biomass and trophic composition did not differ between pristine and subsistence-fished atolls – top predators were abundant on both. We show that in some cases, reefs can support fishing by small communities to provide food but still retain intact fish assemblages. Low-intensity subsistence fishing may not always harm marine food webs, and we suggest that its effects depend on the style and intensity of fishing practised and the type of organisms targeted.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © International Council for the Exploration of the Sea 2017. This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in ICES Journal of Marine Science following peer review. The version of record, Tyson S. H. Martin, Rod M. Connolly, Andrew D. Olds, Daniela M. Ceccarelli, Douglas E. Fenner, Thomas A. Schlacher, Maria Beger, ; Subsistence harvesting by a small community does not substantially compromise coral reef fish assemblages, ICES Journal of Marine Science, Volume 74, Issue 8, 1 October 2017, Pages 2191–2200, is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsx043, |
Keywords: | apex predators, commercial fishing, conservation, coral reef, ecosystem functioning, fishing, isolation, Pacific, pristine, subsistence fishing, trophic cascade. |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Biological Sciences (Leeds) > School of Biology (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 15 Feb 2018 14:18 |
Last Modified: | 28 Mar 2018 00:39 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Oxford University Press |
Identification Number: | 10.1093/icesjms/fsx043 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:127523 |