News Release

'No take zones' in English Channel would benefit marine wildlife and the fishing industry

Peer-Reviewed Publication

University of Exeter

Marine conservationists are increasingly pinning their hopes on marine protected areas (MPAs) to save threatened species and reduce over-fishing. However, while most people agree that stopping some types of fishing in MPAs would benefit wildlife and fisheries, working out which fishing activities should be banned is often complicated and controversial.

A new study published today in the Journal of Applied Ecology explores this difficult issue and highlights the benefits of fully protected 'no-take zones'. This work focused on the English Channel and was carried out by researchers from the University of Exeter, the University of Kent's Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), the Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas), and the Institut francais de recherche pour l'exploitation de la mer (Ifremer) in France.

The study showed that a network of 'limited-take zones', in which trawling and dredging is allowed, would have far fewer benefits for wildlife and fisheries than a network of fully protected 'no-take zones'. However, the study also revealed that a compromise based on mixing no-take and limited-take zones could be an effective way forward, balancing political acceptability with long-term ecological and fisheries gains.

Lead author Dr Kristian Metcalfe from the University of Exeter said: "There are always trade-offs when designing MPA networks. This is because while limited-take MPAs are generally less contentious with the fishing industry, their benefits are not as great or as far reaching as no-take MPAs".

These findings have particular relevance for planning in English waters, where the UK government has been criticised for its plans to allow some types of fishing in every one of its new network of Marine Conservation Zones.

Co-author Dr Bob Smith from DICE said: "Fishing is allowed in a significant proportion of current and proposed MPAs in English waters. Our work shows that such an approach is very short-sighted and that there is plenty of scope for the government to increase the number of no-take zones".

Co-author Dr Steve Mackinson from Cefas said: "People want to know whether the benefits of no-take zones justify the costs of their implementation, or whether there are other forms of management that could achieve similar results. Our work could inform future marine spatial planning efforts by identifying potential conflicts and so help people design systems that better balance conservation and economic objectives".

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Metcalfe, K., Vaz, S. Engelhard, G.H., Villanueva, MC., Smith, R.J. & Mackinson, S. (2015) Evaluating conservation and fisheries management strategies by linking spatial prioritisation software and ecosystem and fisheries modelling tools. Journal of Applied Ecology. doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.12404

Contact

Dr Jo Bowler
University of Exeter
Office: +44 (0)1392 722062
Mobile: +44(0)7827 309 332
Twitter: @UoE_ScienceNews
Email pressoffice@exeter.ac.uk

About the University of Exeter

The University of Exeter is a Russell Group university and in the top one percent of institutions globally. It combines world-class research with very high levels of student satisfaction. Exeter has over 19,000 students and is ranked 7th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide league table, 10th in The Complete University Guide and 12th in the Guardian University Guide 2014. In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF), the University ranked 16th nationally, with 98% of its research rated as being of international quality. Exeter was The Sunday Times University of the Year 2012-13.

The University has four campuses. The Streatham and St Luke's campuses are in Exeter and there are two campuses in Cornwall, Penryn and Truro. The 2014-2015 academic year marks the 10-year anniversary of the two Cornwall campuses. In a pioneering arrangement in the UK, the Penryn Campus is jointly owned and managed with Falmouth University. At the campus, University of Exeter students can study programmes in the following areas: Animal Behaviour, Conservation Biology and Ecology, English, Environmental Science, Evolutionary Biology, Geography, Geology, History, Human Sciences, Mining and Minerals Engineering, Politics and International Relations, Renewable Energy and Zoology.

The University has invested strategically to deliver more than £350 million worth of new facilities across its campuses in the past few years; including landmark new student services centres - the Forum in Exeter and The Exchange at Penryn - together with world-class new facilities for Biosciences, the Business School and the Environment and Sustainability Institute. There are plans for another £330 million of investment between now and 2016.

http://www.exeter.ac.uk/cornwall


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