11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

23-9
Movement Patterns Of The Highfin Grouper (Epinephelus Maculatus, Serranidae)
in A Fragmented Coral Reef Habitat: Implications For The Design Of Marine
Reserves
Olivier CHATEAU* 1 , Laurent WANTIEZ 1
1 LIVE, University of New Caledonia, Noumea, New Caledonia
Acoustic telemetry was used to examine the movement patterns of 7 Highfin Groupers
(Epinephelus maculatus, Serranidae) in a fragmented habitat in New Caledonia, over a
period of 375 days. The studied area included a marine reserve and two unprotected reefs
separated by large areas of lagoon soft bottoms (900 m and 2000 m). The fish were
detected between 7 days and 341 days. Only one fish show strong site fidelity within the
hydrophone network during the study. The other fish were not detected by the same
hydrophone more than 8 consecutives days. Four fish (57%) were exclusively detected on
the reef where they were released. Three of them realized large within-reef movements (>
3 km) in spite of their short monitored period (up to 78 days). Three other fish (43%)
were detected on a different reef than the reef where they were released. The minimum
distance covered during their monitored period (9 days to 341 days) ranged from 11 km
to 24 km. Three patterns of between-reef movements were identified for these fish
including installation outside the reserve, multiple between-reef movements within the
area, and punctual excursions outside the daily home range. The identified patterns of
movements suggest the capacity for the studied fish to disperse with time. The withinreef
movements confirm that partial reefs closures may not be effective to protect E.
maculatus. The detected between-reef movements show the ability for E. maculatus to
carry out medium-scale movements in a fragmented habitat and suggest that the studied
reserve do not protect the entire population of this species.
23-10
No-Take Reserves And The Benthic Assemblages Of Florida’s Coral Reefs
Lauren T. TOTH* 1 , Richard B. ARONSON 2 , S. Robertson SMITH 3 , Thaddeus J. T.
MURDOCH 4 , Staci A. LEWIS 5
1 University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, 2 Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island,
AL, 3 Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 4 Bermuda
Zoological Society, Flatts FL BX, Bermuda, 5 Environmental Science and Policy
Department, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Marine protected areas have become common tools for coral reef management. Despite
their widespread use, it is unclear whether the affects of protection can be translated to
beneficial impacts on the benthic assemblages. The aim of this study was to characterize
changes in community structure within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
following the establishment of no-take reserves from 1998 to 2007. Reefs both inside and
outside 3 no-take zones were surveyed using underwater video transects. A comparison
between No-take and reference sites was used to determine if protection had an effect on
benthic composition. A significant overall decrease in coral cover found at all sites and
was consistent with trends throughout the Caribbean. The declines were in part due to the
losses of the once-abundant population of Monastrea spp. There have been other
significant changes in species dominance of scleractinian corals, and several species
present at the onset of this study are no longer detectable. Despite such marked changes
in benthic assemblages, there was no conclusive relationship between these shifts and
levels of protection of the reefs. Although there was high cover of macroalgae during
several sampling periods, substrate suitable for larval settlement accounted for 27-90% of
total cover during the sampling periods. This indicates that despite the effect that no-take
reserves may be having on fish populations, the causes of the continuing decline in the
health of reefs in the Florida Keys operate at spatial and temporal scales beyond the
scope of such protection.
Oral Mini-Symposium 23: Reef Management
23-11
Scaling Up To Networks Of Marine Protected Areas in The Philippines: Biophysical,
Legal, Institutional And Social Considerations
Alan WHITE* 1 , Kem LOWRY 2 , Patrick CHRISTIE 3
1 Gobal Marine Initiative, The Nature Conservancy, Honolulu, HI, 2 University of Hawaii,
Honolulu, HI, 3 School of Marine Affaires, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Marine protected areas (MPAs) are an accepted means of protecting coral reef and associated
habitats and enhancing near-shore fisheries. The growing number of MPAs is stimulating the
formation of planned and managed MPA networks. This study documented and learned from
the development of MPA networks in the Philippines and identified critical success factors and
issues. Methods were field observation by participation in MPA and fisheries management
projects and a focused interview protocol that gathered opinions and observations of primary
MPA network stakeholders. Findings showed that an MPA network is defined through social
and ecological criteria. From a social perspective, a network is comprised of people and
organizations that manage component MPAs, benefit from the network, and promote the
networks’ viability through shared administrative responsibility and information. To qualify
ecologically, individual MPAs must interact in an ecologically meaningful manner (e.g., source
or sink of larvae and propagating organisms, protection for quality habitat and threatened or
endangered species, etc.) that enhance fisheries and biodiversity conservation. Thus, a MPA
network is composed of individual MPAs founded on an institutional framework that supports
interaction, not just a group of individual MPAs. The study found that while social and
ecological criteria are shaping MPA networks through science based planning, integrated
management and coordination, there exist numerous issues related to scaling up to networks
from single MPAs. Issues pertain to: limiting access to resources, boundary delineation,
monitoring compliance, finding common goals and identity, and conflict resolution. Success
factors included common institutional processes and legal support, improved understanding of
benefits from a network and improved habitat conditions and fishery yields associated with
MPAs.
23-12
Finding The Right Fit For Ecosystem-Based Management in The Philippines
Rose-Liza OSORIO* 1
1 Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation, Inc., Cebu, Philippines
Spatial scales for ecological marine protected area networks do not necessarily fit into existing
governance frameworks in the Philippines. The Philippines adopts a highly decentralized
approach to coastal management including marine protected area (MPA) management. Each
local government authority exercises management powers and responsibilities over their coastal
zone which is measured from the shoreline to 15-km seaward of municipal waters. The local
government initiatives have resulted to the establishment of over 300 MPAs in Central
Philippines to improve marine habitats and enhance fishery resources, with only 20-30% of
MPAs effectively managed with sustainable fishery benefits. With the increasing number of
MPAs, the need for joint MPA management efforts in order to increase management
effectiveness as well as protect areas beyond MPA boundaries has arisen. Thus, a definitive
governance structure has been sought within the fisheries ecosystem scale following the
ecosystem-based management approach. This paper will present the management strategies,
outcomes and lessons of the Local Governance for Coastal Management Project for the
Management of Coral Reefs and Fisheries in the Philippines since January 2002. The project
has been working towards scaling-up the geographic scope to achieve the desired results in
fisheries ecosystem management by expanding from a municipal up to a much broader
collaboration at the inter-local government unit, provincial and regional scale. It focuses on
activities that address the needs in institutional building and strengthening, fisheries
management, habitat management, foreshore management, and coastal law enforcement.
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