Changes in fisher resources and reef fish assemblages in a Marine Protected Area in the US Virgin Islands: the need for a no take marine reserve
Beets J and Rogers C. Changes in fisher resources and reef fish assemblages in a Marine Protected Area in the US Virgin Islands: the need for a no take marine reserve. Pages 449-454. In Proceedings 9th International Coral Reef Symposium. Bali, Indonesia. October 23-27, 2000. Proceedings of the International Coral Reef Symposium
Fishery resources have declined and reef fish assemblages have changed over the last 30-40 years in the US Virgin Islands (USVI), even Within a Marine Protected Area. Virgin Islands National Park (VINP). Groupers and snappers are now far less abundant, the proportion of herbivorous fishes has increased individuals of many fish species are smaller, and spawning aggregations have been decimated. The national park is not a refuge for reef fishes. Relative abundance, species richness, and biomass of fishes in visual samples, and the species composition and number of fishes in traps are similar inside and outside VINP. Lobsters and conchs have decreased in abundance and/or size and conch density is no greater within VINP than outside. Although habitat degradation has undoubtedly played a role. heavy fishing pressure has greatly contributed to the observed changes. No-take marine reserves, such as the recently established national monuments in the USVI, offer hope for recovery of fish assemblages and associated habitats.
- Type
- Conference Proceeding Paper
- Authors
- Beets, Jim; Rogers, Caroline
- Units
- VIIS
- Keywords
- Coral reefs. Fishery declines. Marine reserves, REEF FishES