Study shows marine protected areas support 10% of fish in global coral reefs

theconversation.com October 7, 2024, 08:00 PM UTC

A new study of nearly 2,600 tropical coral reefs shows that marine protected areas contribute to about 10% of fish populations. Currently, 8% of the world's oceans are protected, with 3% having complete fishing bans. The research indicates that no-take zones, where fishing is prohibited, are particularly effective, accounting for 20% of the fish biomass from protection efforts. Expanding these zones could increase fish populations by up to 28% globally. While the study highlights some success in ocean conservation, it also points out significant room for improvement. Enhancing compliance with existing protections and strategically expanding marine protected areas could lead to much larger increases in fish populations.


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