Roberts, C.M. orcid.org/0000-0003-2276-4258, Hawkins, J.P. and Gell, F.R. (2005) The role of marine reserves in achieving sustainable fisheries (One contribution of 15 to a Theme Issue 'Fisheries: a Future?'). Philosophical Transactions Of The Royal Society Of London Series B - Biological Sciences. pp. 123-132. ISSN 1471-2970
Abstract
Many fishery management tools currently in use have conservation value. They are designed to maintain stocks of commercially important species above target levels. However, their limitations are evident from continuing declines in fish stocks throughout the world. We make the case that to reverse fishery declines, safeguard marine life and sustain ecosystem processes, extensive marine reserves that are off limits to fishing must become part of the management strategy. Marine reserves should be incorporated into modern fishery management because they can achieve many things that conventional tools cannot. Only complete and permanent protection from fishing can protect the most sensitive habitats and vulnerable species. Only reserves will allow the development of natural, extended age structures of target species, maintain their genetic variability and prevent deleterious evolutionary change from the effects of fishing. Species with natural age structures will sustain higher rates of reproduction and will be more resilient to environmental variability. Higher stock levels maintained by reserves will provide insurance against management failure, including risk-prone quota setting, provided the broader conservation role of reserves is firmly established and legislatively protected. Fishery management measures outside protected areas are necessary to complement the protection offered by marine reserves, but cannot substitute for it.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | Copyright © 2003 The Royal Society |
Keywords: | marine protected area,fishery management,no-take zones,marine conservation |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Environment and Geography (York) |
Depositing User: | Repository Officer |
Date Deposited: | 22 Mar 2005 |
Last Modified: | 21 Jan 2025 17:13 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2004.1578 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1098/rstb.2004.1578 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:359 |