CalOceans News

Scripps scientists: Marine reserves produce more and bigger fish

This weekend, the country’s foremost ocean experts will meet in San Diego to review the latest science on marine reserves.  Ocean management is one of the key topics at this year’s American Association for the Advancement of
Sciences conference, and is also the theme of February’s Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences issue.
 
California has many long-established marine reserves, and is working now to create a science-based network through the Marine Life Protection Act.

Scientists from Scripps Institution of Oceanography have studied reserves at La Jolla and in the Channel Islands, noting increases in the size and numbers of sheephead, abalone, and kelp bass.
 
The expanded protections proposed through the MLPA for key areas like south La Jolla, Swamis Reef, Point Dume, and Catalina would build on that success, helping to boost southern California’s overall ocean health.
 
In today’s San Diego Union Tribune, Stanford’s Steve Palumbi said California’s marine reserves will benefit anglers by boosting the size and abundance of fish in nearby open areas.
 
Fisheries scientist Ray Hilborn said increased abundance inside protected areas is good for tourism and for researchers.
 
Scripps’ Ed Parnell said that, while the design process is complex, we know that Caifornia’s new reserves will produce increases in the density and size of fish and invertebrates.
 

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• marine reserves
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• ocean science
• aaas 2010