Recreational Impacts on Coral Reef Fish Populations
Tilmant JT. 1981. Recreational Impacts on Coral Reef Fish Populations. Pages 122-138. In Tilmant JT (ed): Proceedings U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Workshop: Coastal Ecosystems of the Southeastern United States. Big Pine Key, Florida. 18-22 February 1980. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The author conducted a study to determine the impact of recreational activities on Biscayne National Monument (now Biscayne National Park, FL) by studying selected patch reefs and examining recreational fish harvest data. Four buoyed, frequently used coral patch reefs were compared with four similar unmarked control reefs. Recreational activities on these reefs include snorkeling and spear-fishing. Findings suggest that significant alteration of overall reef fish populations by present levels of recreational activities has not been evident. In addition, there has been no decline in frequently harvested fish species (except grouper in 1979); size class data for harvested fish indicate population age class structures have remained stable. A map of the study site is included.
- Type
- Conference Proceeding Paper
- Authors
- Tilmant, James
- Units
- BISC
- Keywords
- Coral, Ecology, Fishing, Impacts, Management, Recreation, Reefs