Decadal increase in the number of recreational users is concentrated in no-take marine reserves

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 107; no. 1; pp. 144 - 154
• Main Authors: Gonson, Charles, Pelletier, Dominique, Gamp, Elodie, Preuss, Bastien, Jollit, Isabelle, Ferraris, Jocelyne
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 15.06.2016; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Anthozoa; Biodiversity; boating; boats; coasts; conservation areas; Conservation of Natural Resources; Coral reef ecosystem; Coral Reefs; corals; ecosystems; Humans; Life Sciences; Marine; monitoring; Mooring practices; MPA; New Caledonia; Recreation; Recreational uses; spatial variation; Spatio-temporal pattern; surveys; warm season; water pollution; Coral reef ecosystem; Spatio-temporal pattern; Recreational uses; Mooring practices; New Caledonia; MPA
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.04.007

In coastal areas, demographic increase is likely to result in greater numbers of recreational users, with potential consequences on marine biodiversity. These effects may also occur within Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which are popular with recreational users. Our analysis builds on data collected over a ten-year period during three year-round surveys to appraise changes in recreational boating activities in coral ecosystems. Results show that the number of boaters has greatly increased, particularly so within MPAs during weekends and the warm season, when peaks in boat numbers have become more frequent. We also observed that the number of anchored boats has increased over the period. These changes may be resulting in biophysical impacts that could be detrimental to conservation objectives in MPAs. This steady increase over time may cause changes in the spatial and temporal distribution of users and in their practices, thus highlighting the importance of monitoring recreational activities. •Boating activity was monitored over ten years in an MPA network.•Boaters' number has strongly increased particularly so within MPAs.•Boaters' especially increased during weekends and summer.•Peaks in boat numbers have become more frequent and higher.•Recently installed permanent moorings did not prevent increased anchoring in MPAs.