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The use of marine protected areas (also called "MPAs", marine reserves, or ecological reserves) to protect critical habitats and important species may seem like a new concept to those of us here in the United States. However, marine reserves have been utilized around the world for years, with very promising results. Here are some highlights:
- Here in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the relative abundance of spiny lobster (catch per trap) within the Western Sambo Ecological Reserve was greater than in adjacent fished areas. The average size of lobsters within the Reserve was also significantly larger than outside the Reserve. Gregory; Sentinel Lobster Fisheries Project Interim Report, July 13, 1998.
- The density of adults rock lobsters in a New Zealand marine reserve is ten times higher within the reserve than on the surrounding coast. Lobsters living in the reserve are much larger than those found outside of it. Ballantine; New Scientist, June 4, 1987.
- In a study of the economic benefits of the Bonaire Marine Park, it was found that economic activities associated with use of the Park waters produced yearly gross revenues of over $23 million (US), or over half of Bonaire’s entire income. Dixon; paper presented at 8th Symposium of Coastal and Ocean Management (1993).
- The Sumilon Reserve, located in the Philippines, contained significantly more individuals for most families of fish than either a limited protection area or a no protection area. The Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) rates, or how hard a fisherman must work to catch a certain quantity of fish, were higher during a year of protection than a year of no protection, for all three types of fishing gear used. Alcala; Ambio, vol. 17 no. 3, 1988.
- In the Mediterranean, more fish species were observed at marine reserve sites than non-reserve sites of the same depth. The additional species at reserve sites were from families of fish that were vulnerable to spearfishing, amateur angling or commercial gill netting. Furthermore, most of the "vulnerable" species were observed in higher densities at the reserve site. The "non-vulnerable" fish species also had higher densities at protected reserve sites. Bell; Journal of Applied Ecology (1983) 20.
- Following the establishment of the De Hoop marine reserve in South Africa, the fish species targeted most by anglers increased. The six fish species for which Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) rates improved comprised the most important angling species in the area. Bennett & Attwood; Marine Ecology Progress Series (1991) vol. 75.
- In the Saba Marine Park in the Caribbean, they learned that there was a strong incentive to provide protection to marine resources given the growth in dive tourism after implementation of the Park. Dixon; paper presented at 8th Symposium of Coastal and Ocean Management (1993).
- Hol Chan, a very small but popular marine reserve in Belize , contains a higher biomass of fishes per unit area of reef than has been seen anywhere else in the world. The reserve also contained seven more species of commercial fishes than adjacent areas subject to fishing. Roberts; Coral Reefs (1994) vol. 13.
- The Caribbean’s Saba Marine Park in just two years saw the overall biomass of commercially important fish families increased 60%. It was also observed that fish populations increased in both protected and unprotected areas, the latter likely an effect of reduced fishing intensity. Roberts; Conservation Biology, vol. 9 no. 4, August 1995
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