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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
general
Recovery potential of the world's coral reef fishes
Nature, Volume 520, No. 7547, Year 2015
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Description
Continuing degradation of coral reef ecosystems has generated substantial interest in how management can support reef resilience. Fishing is the primary source of diminished reef function globally, leading to widespread calls for additional marine reserves to recover fish biomass and restore key ecosystem functions. Yet there are no established baselines for determining when these conservation objectives have been met or whether alternative management strategies provide similar ecosystem benefits. Here we establish empirical conservation benchmarks and fish biomass recovery timelines against which coral reefs can be assessed and managed by studying the recovery potential of more than 800 coral reefs along an exploitation gradient. We show that resident reef fish biomass in the absence of fishing (B0) averages ∼1,000 kg ha-1, and that the vast majority (83%) of fished reefs are missing more than half their expected biomass, with severe consequences for key ecosystem functions such as predation. Given protection from fishing, reef fish biomass has the potential to recover within 35 years on average and less than 60 years when heavily depleted. Notably, alternative fisheries restrictions are largely (64%) successful at maintaining biomass above 50% of B0, sustaining key functions such as herbivory. Our results demonstrate that crucial ecosystem functions can be maintained through a range of fisheries restrictions, allowing coral reef managers to develop recovery plans that meet conservation and livelihood objectives in areas where marine reserves are not socially or politically feasible solutions. ©2015 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.
Authors & Co-Authors
MacNeil, M. Aaron
Australia, Townsville
Australian Institute of Marine Science
Canada, Halifax
Dalhousie University
Australia, Townsville
Arc Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
Graham, Nicholas Anthony James
Australia, Townsville
Arc Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
Cinner, Joshua E.
Australia, Townsville
Arc Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
Wilson, Shaun K.
Australia, Perth
The University of Western Australia
Williams, Ivor D.
United States, Honolulu
Noaa Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
Maina, Joseph M.
United States, Honolulu
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Friedlander, Alan Marc
United States, Honolulu
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
United States, Washington
National Geographic
Jupiter, Stacy D.
United States, Honolulu
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Polunin, N. V.C.
United Kingdom, Newcastle
Newcastle University
McClanahan, Tim R.
United States, Honolulu
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Statistics
Citations: 260
Authors: 10
Affiliations: 8
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1038/nature14358
ISSN:
00280836