Differential Effectiveness of Two Mediterranean Marine Reserves

Marine reserves are areas where fishing mortality is reduced, and their effectiveness in enhancing fisheries depends on the magnitude of this reduction. We evaluated the effectiveness of two marine reserves in the Mediterranean that differed in enforcement levels using a dual approach that combined interviews with fishers and on-board sampling. Only the reserve with stricter fishing restrictions showed measurable stock enhancement. In areas adjacent to this reserve, catches were higher and body sizes were larger for some species. In addition, fishers adjusted their fishing gear when operating near this reserve, thereby targeting larger individuals. In contrast, no distance-related trends were detected around the reserve with weaker fishing restrictions. Both the interviews and on-board sampling produced consistent results regarding the effectiveness of the two reserves.