@article{vilas_effects_2020,

title = {The effects of marine protected areas on ecosystem recovery and fisheries using a comparative modelling approach},

author = {D. Vilas and M. Coll and X. Corrales and J. Steenbeek and C. Piroddi and A. Cal\`{o} and A. Di Franco and T. Font and P. Guidetti and A. Ligas and J. Lloret and G. Prato and R. Sahyoun and P. Sartor and J. Claudet},

url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/aqc.3368},

doi = {10.1002/aqc.3368},

issn = {1099-0755},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-08-14},

journal = {Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems},

abstract = {The overexploitation of many marine resources and ecosystems calls for the development and implementation of measures to support their recovery and conservation. The potential contributions to support fisheries and ecosystem recovery were assessed at the local level of the three multiple-use marine protected areas (MPAs) of Cerb\`{e}re-Banyuls, Medes Islands, and Cap de Creus, located in the north-western Mediterranean Sea. For each MPA, a food-web model accounting for each protection level (PL) was developed: the fully protected area (FPA), the partially protected area (PPA) and the unprotected area (UPA) surrounding the MPA. Using the resulting nine food-web models, the ecosystem structure and functioning of each PL were compared and characterized, differences and similarities within and among the three MPAs were assessed, and ecosystem response to full protection was evaluated for the three MPAs. Differences in terms of ecosystem structure and functioning were found among PLs. Overall, FPAs presented the most positive effect of protection in terms of ecosystem structure and functioning, followed by PPAs. However, the effects of protection on neighbouring UPAs were hardly noticeable. Similarities between Cerb\`{e}re-Banyuls and Medes Islands MPAs were observed, while Cap de Creus MPA showed the least benefits from protection overall. These results are likely to be due to similarities in the configuration of the protected areas, the levels of enforcement and compliance, and the impact of recreational and small-scale fisheries allowed in the PPAs and UPAs. This study illustrates that well-enforced Mediterranean MPAs, even when small, can yield local positive impacts on the structure and functioning of marine ecosystems that can contribute to support local fisheries.},

keywords = {Ecopath with Ecosim, local study, Marine protected areas (MPA), NW Mediterranean},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{corrales_multi-zone_2020,

title = {Multi-zone marine protected areas: Assessment of ecosystem and fisheries benefits using multiple ecosystem models},

author = {X. Corrales and D. Vilas and C. Piroddi and J. Steenbeek and J. Claudet and J. Lloret and A. Cal\`{o} and A. Di Franco and T. Font and A. Ligas},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-01},

journal = {Ocean \& Coastal Management},

volume = {193},

pages = {105232},

note = {Publisher: Elsevier},

keywords = {ecosystem, fisheries management, local study, Marine protected areas (MPA)},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{vilas_current_2020,

title = {Current and potential contributions of the Gulf of Lion Fisheries Restricted Area to fisheries sustainability in the NW Mediterranean Sea},

author = {D. Vilas and M. Coll and X. Corrales and J. Steenbeek and C. Piroddi and D. Macias and A. Ligas and P. Sartor and J. Claudet},

url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.02.22.960914v1.abstract},

doi = {10.1101/2020.02.22.960914 },

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-01},

urldate = {2020-01-01},

journal = {bioRxiv},

abstract = {Many commercial species of the world are overexploited resulting in substantial reductions of biomass and ecological changes. Spatial-temporal restrictions of fishing activities are important measures used for the management of marine stocks. However, evidence of whether fishing bans benefit whole ecosystems is still scant. Here, we developed a food-web model approach using the Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) model representing the Fisheries Restricted Area (FRA) of the Gulf of Lion ecosystem (CoSEGoL model) prior to the establishment of the fisheries restrictions (2006-2008) to characterize the structure and functioning of the ecosystem before and after its establishment. The constructed food-web model was, then, fitted to available time series of data from 2008 to 2016 to verify whether this FRA has contributed to recovery of target demersal species and the demersal community. The fitted model was used to explore alternative future management scenarios to explore feasible management options in order to ensure a full ecosystem recovery under climate change conditions. Both small positive and negative ecosystem changes occurred between prior and after the establishment of the FRA, potentially revealing a lack of protection efficiency and/or enforcement. Scenarios of management options under plausible climate futures revealed possible recovery of targeted species, especially European hake. The study highlighted the importance of considering trophic interactions between predators and prey to identify trade-offs and synergies in fisheries management outcomes and the need to consider both fishing and climate dynamics.},

note = {Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory},

keywords = {fisheries management, Gulf of Lion, Marine protected areas (MPA), NW Mediterranean, regional study},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{coll_low_2015,

title = {“Low hanging fruits” for conservation of marine vertebrate species at risk in the Mediterranean Sea},

author = {M. Coll and J. Steenbeek and F. Ben Rais Lasram and D. Mouillot and P. Cury},

year  = {2015},

date = {2015-01-01},

journal = {Global Ecology and Biogeography},

volume = {24},

keywords = {Marine protected areas (MPA), Mediterranean Sea, regional study},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{fouzai_fishing_2012,

title = {Fishing management scenarios to rebuild exploited resources and ecosystems of the Northern-Central Adriatic (Mediterranean Sea)},

author = {N. Fouzai and M. Coll and I. Palomera and A. Santojanni and E. Arneri and V. Christensen},

url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924796312001169},

doi = {10.1016/j.jmarsys.2012.05.003},

issn = {0924-7963},

year  = {2012},

date = {2012-01-01},

urldate = {2012-06-03},

journal = {Journal of Marine Systems},

volume = {102-104},

pages = {39--51},

abstract = {We examined various fishing management options to recover exploited marine resources and ecosystems of the Northern-Central Adriatic Sea. Dynamic simulations were based on a spatial ecological model previously calibrated with time series of data. Scenarios regarding spatial management were evaluated with the establishment of two marine protected areas, respectively, in the Pomo pit and the northern region. In addition, three temporal simulations of temporary closures and overall reduction of fishing effort of demersal and pelagic fleets (bottom, mid-water trawls and purse seines) were also considered. Simulations were run for 45\ years (1975\textendash2020), including the calibration period (1975\textendash2002), and changes in biomass and catch of marine resources were analyzed. Our results confirm that current fishing management in the Adriatic Sea does not have clear beneficial impacts for the recovery of exploited resources, which will remain depleted in 2020 if “business as usual” continues. Simulations of alternative management suggest that both protected areas could be beneficial for fish population recovery predicting an increase in the biomass of commercial fish and predatory organisms. Simulations of temporary closures and overall reduction of fishing effort also show significant benefits for several commercial resources. We argue that both management measures may be effective tools to recover exploited ecosystems of the Northern-Central Adriatic Sea and halt the decline of marine resources.},

keywords = {Adriatic Sea, Ecopath with Ecosim, Ecospace, fisheries management, Marine protected areas (MPA), trophic ecology},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{fouzaiFishingManagementScenarios2012,

title = {Fishing Management Scenarios to Rebuild Exploited Resources and Ecosystems of the Northern-Central Adriatic (Mediterranean Sea)},

author = {N. Fouzai and M. Coll and I. Palomera and A. Santojanni and E. Arneri and V. Christensen},

doi = {10.1016/j.jmarsys.2012.05.003},

issn = {0924-7963},

year  = {2012},

date = {2012-01-01},

urldate = {2012-06-03},

journal = {Journal of Marine Systems},

volume = {102\textendash104},

pages = {39\textendash51},

abstract = {We examined various fishing management options to recover exploited marine resources and ecosystems of the Northern-Central Adriatic Sea. Dynamic simulations were based on a spatial ecological model previously calibrated with time series of data. Scenarios regarding spatial management were evaluated with the establishment of two marine protected areas, respectively, in the Pomo pit and the northern region. In addition, three temporal simulations of temporary closures and overall reduction of fishing effort of demersal and pelagic fleets (bottom, mid-water trawls and purse seines) were also considered. Simulations were run for 45\ years (1975\textendash2020), including the calibration period (1975\textendash2002), and changes in biomass and catch of marine resources were analyzed. Our results confirm that current fishing management in the Adriatic Sea does not have clear beneficial impacts for the recovery of exploited resources, which will remain depleted in 2020 if ``business as usual'' continues. Simulations of alternative management suggest that both protected areas could be beneficial for fish population recovery predicting an increase in the biomass of commercial fish and predatory organisms. Simulations of temporary closures and overall reduction of fishing effort also show significant benefits for several commercial resources. We argue that both management measures may be effective tools to recover exploited ecosystems of the Northern-Central Adriatic Sea and halt the decline of marine resources.},

keywords = {Ecopath with Ecosim, Ecospace, fisheries management, Marine protected areas (MPA), Northern-Central Adriatic Sea, Trophic models},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}