Wednesday October 30, 2024
Oceanographic Magazine —
A new study devised to “test the mettle” of global coral reef conservation has found that areas in which marine protection is at its most effective, fish numbers have risen by approximately 10%. It’s good news for those looking to reinforce the case for expanded global conservation efforts, but leaves vast room for improvement, lead researchers have said.
Taking a deep dive into fish survey data from across nearly 2,600 tropical reef locations, the global study – conducted by the University of Sydney and published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences – found that approximately 10% of fish biomass can be attributed to existing marine protections.
The research was led by Professor Joshua Cinner from the School of Geosciences and lead analyst Dr Iain Caldwell from the Wildlife Conservation Society. The international research team also included scientists from the US, Kenya, France, and Germany.
Professor Cinner, who is also the director of the Thriving Oceans Research Hub, has suggested that the results of the research could have a positive impact on boosting fish stocks in areas of “vast over-fishing”, thus benefiting the coastal communities dependent on them.