Ecological field experiment of short-term effects of fishing ban on fish assemblages in a tropical estuarine MPA

• Published in: Ocean & coastal management Vol. 100; pp. 74 - 85
• Main Authors: Ecoutin, Jean-Marc, Simier, Monique, Albaret, Jean-Jacques, Laë, Raymond, Raffray, Jean, Sadio, Oumar, Tito de Morais, Luis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biodiversity and Ecology; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Ecology; Environmental health; Environmental Sciences; Estuaries; Exact sciences and technology; Fisheries; Fishermen; Geomorphology, landform evolution; Life Sciences; Marine and continental quaternary; Marine parks and reserves; Sampling; Surficial geology; Surveys; West Africa; Senegal; West Africa; Africa; ASE, Africa; ASE, Senegal; ASE, Senegal, Sine Saloum; experimental studies; predators; biomass; estuarine environment; habitat; Chordata; sampling; surveys; protection; variability; Vertebrata; conservation; management; Pisces; bays; ecosystems; fish; estuaries; populations; LONG-TERM; DENSITY; FISHERIES; PROTECTION; SIZE; SPECIES RICHNESS; SPILLOVER; ACL; AREAS; ABUNDANCE; MARINE RESERVES
• ISSN: 0964-5691; 1873-524X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2014.08.009

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), in addition to their important role in the conservation of critical habitats and vulnerable species, are now also used in a context of ecosystem-based fisheries management. The aim of this study was to assess the observed changes in the fish population structure in the years following a fishing ban. The experiment took place in the Bamboung bolong, a small bay in the Sine Saloum estuary in Senegal, West Africa. The protection of this zone was undertaken with local fishermen support, and a formal MPA was created in 2004. The survey of the fish assemblages was initiated in 2003, the year before the fishing ban, and went on until 2007, with 12 sampling sites being monitored three times per year. In this paper, we describe and analyze the evolution of the fish assemblage during this five years' experimental period. Some changes have been highlighted on which the effect of the fishing ban was shown. After the fishing ban, an increase of total biomass and of maximal fish length has been registered. In the same time, the number of species has increased and the percentage of large and/or iconic species targeted by fishing has also increased. The community structure has been modified, with more small fish, more big fish (new large species and more large individuals in the original species) and fewer medium sized fish. The contribution of marine affinity species has increased in depend of the estuarine part of the assemblage. Finally, the trophic structure has been modified with an overall increase of the mean trophic level, resulting from an increase of the percentage of generalist or piscivorous predators and a sharp decrease of herbivorous and detritivorous low trophic level species. Marine predators which numbers and size were reduced by fisheries are again important components of the system. We argue that despite the intrinsic variability of the tropical estuarine environments, the introduction of a total ban on fishing in such estuarine zones can substantially improve the health status of the fish assemblage. •A tropical estuarine MPA was surveyed before and after a total fishing ban.•The aim was to assess the short-term changes in the fish assemblage structure.•Marine component increased in depend of estuarine component.•High trophic level component increased in depend of low trophic level component.•The fishing ban improves substantially the health status of the fish assemblage.