Fish stocks double near marine reserves - DNA tells the story

New Scientist Article: 
DNA suggests marine reserves boost commercial fishing
 24 May 2012 by Michael Slezak

If you protect fish, there will be more of them to catch. That's the reasoning conservationists have long used to persuade commercial fisheries of the benefits of marine reserves. Now they may have DNA confirmation.

Earlier research had shown that marine reserves result in larger fish that spawn more offspring, but researchers were left speculating exactly where the baby fish ended up and whether they truly help replenish other areas.

Now, with the use of new DNA profiling techniques, scientists have shown that by devoting less than a third of an area to a marine reserve network, you can double the number of juvenile fish that settle in the rest of the area. (Current Biology, DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2012.04.008)

Read more of this article...here

www.ausmepa.org.au

Sanctuary Harvest of Invasive Marine Pest Undaria,

One of the interesting things about wild places is the capacity of non-native species to intrude and take over from native species and Port Phillip has a long list. One of the more recent is the kelp Undaria.


Marine Care Ricketts Point is a  friends group associated with a small Marine Sanctuary at Ricketts Point on the eastern side of Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, The group has demonstrated outstanding community leadership and has been influential both socially and environmentally in protecting it  through a range of activities. 


Recently the group conducted a successful Undaria Harvest. Because of the nature of Undaria it is particularly difficult to eradicate.The basic strategy was to harvest the high profile reefs areas and a small buffer area surrounding them.


The density of the infestation made the effort very labour intensive however it also yielded information on what harvesting methods proved more efficient. The effort didn't free the Sanctuary of Undaria but it did free up some significant areas for natives to re-establish.


If your community group is interested in marine park stewardship you might like to take a look at the Marine Care Ricketts Point website here for some great ideas.




www.ausmepa.org.au

Victorian Marine Park friends group helps Jawbone and Point Cooke

Marine Care Ricketts Point is a Victorian marine sanctuary friends group in Australia. It has not only taken on real stewardship of the local marine park they have also been lending a hand to establish community friends groups for two other wet parks within Port Phillip Bay.

It won't be long before their Marine Education Centre opens at Ricketts Point for school groups and public education. This new Centre compliments their efforts in science based community monitoring of the sanctuary. The surveys are clearly demonstrating real progress towards increased health of this highly used urban marine sanctuary.

Check them out at http://www.marinecare.org.au/