Marine Protected Areas, Fishing, and Impact Study
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Introduction
A study has been conducted to investigate the effects of marine protected areas on fishing activities. The goal of designating 30 percent of the world's oceans as protected areas, with one-third of that being no-take zones, has sparked debates between environmental conservationists and the fishing industry. This study aims to shed light on the issue, although an expert raises some concerns regarding its methodology.
Background
The World Nature Conference (COP15) held in Montreal in December decided that, by 2030, a minimum of 30 percent of the Earth's oceans should be protected to safeguard biodiversity and promote stock regeneration.
Two-thirds of this area, equivalent to 10 percent of the oceans, should be designated as no-take zones, meaning fishing activities would not be allowed. As of October 2022, less than 3 percent of the oceans were under such protection.
Debates and Criticism
For several years, there have been intense debates between proponents and critics of marine protected areas. Supporters argue that these zones increase biodiversity and can potentially enhance fish catch volumes. Critics, however, remain unconvinced, stating that marine protected areas are only one approach to addressing fishing issues.
An expert, Christopher Zimmermann, the head of the Thünen Institute of Baltic Sea Fisheries in Rostock, highlights the lack of conclusive evidence regarding the impact of marine protected areas on fish catch volumes. Previous studies have suggested positive effects, but criticisms of their methodologies have been raised, leading to the retraction of a paper published in the scientific journal "PNAS" in 2021.
The Study Findings
A research team from the University of California, San Diego, led by Fabio Favoretto, conducted a study on the Revillagigedo Archipelago marine protected area in the Pacific, located approximately 500 kilometers off the west coast of Mexico. The area, known as the "Mexican Galapagos," spans 147,000 square kilometers and is rich in marine biodiversity.
The study findings reveal that fishing within the Revillagigedo Archipelago marine protected area decreased by 82 percent. However, the duration of fishing and the total amount of fish landed by the ships active in the region prior to the establishment of the protected area remained unchanged.
The research team notes that the protected area covers only 2.3 percent of the total area utilized by the fishing fleet from 2014 to 2021. The majority of the fleet operated in international waters, and the establishment of the marine protected area did not negatively affect fish catch volumes or require an expansion of the fishing area for Mexico's industrial fleet.
Expert's Perspective
Christopher Zimmermann points out that the study's focus on a fishing fleet operating over large distances is a crucial limitation. Since the marine protected area covers only a small portion of the fleet's fishing area, its statistical significance is limited. Additionally, the study's findings may not be easily applicable to other marine protected areas.
Zimmermann suggests that governments should consider creating interconnected networks of smaller protected areas that encompass different ecosystems, rather than solely focusing on the size of protected areas.