The disappearance of oysters from the Wadden Sea: a cautionary tale for no-take zones

• Published in: Aquatic conservation Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 91 - 104
• Main Authors: Berghahn, Rüdiger, Ruth, Maarten
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.01.2005; Wiley
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Hydrallmania falcata; Ostrea edulis; reference areas; Sabellaria spinulosa; Sertularia cupressina; Wadden Sea; Aquatic environment; Bivalvia; Invertebrata; Mollusca; Animal conservation; Wadden Sea; Population decline; Ostrea edulis; Environmental protection
• ISSN: 1052-7613; 1099-0755
• DOI: 10.1002/aqc.635

1. The question as to whether no‐take zones, as reference areas in the Wadden Sea (eastern North Sea), may develop within a few years or decades towards an ecological situation similar to the one which may have existed in earlier times is examined. 2. It is argued that the driving forces behind changes in species and habitats in the Wadden Sea are natural long‐term variability of abiotic factors and area‐wide anthropogenic impact (coastal engineering). 3. Fisheries in the Wadden Sea are shown to be of minor importance, and it is proposed that establishment of no‐take zones here will not result in the recovery and recolonization of missing species and habitats. The examples of species include European oysters (Ostrea edulis), sabellarian reefs (Sabellaria spinulosa) and white weed (Sertularia cupressina, Hydrallmania falcata). Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.