A new paper predicts 20% increased fish catches for closure of just 5% of global ocean area (continue). A related article discusses the challenges of implementing these findings along with the need to do so (continue)

The implications of this prediction, based on fisheries models, seem like a ‘no brainer’: close 1/20 of our seas through HPMPAs to boost catches by 1/5, but the reality is more complicated. These HPMPAs would need to be in inshore productive seas that are actually fished, most of the currently designated HPMPAs being in remote offshore ocean areas that are used by few fishers, and the fishing industry will vigorously object as they are not convinced of the spillover benefits of MPAs. For example, while 36% of the marine waters around the UK are covered by MPAs, only 0.0024% has complete ban on all fishing (i.e. HPMPAs). Increasing the number & size of HPMPAs from these four small sites to 5% of the UK’s sea area (excluding overseas territories) would represent more than a 2,000 fold increase, to which the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations would no doubt object, again undermining political will for the conservation of fisheries and marine ecosystems through HPMPA designations. Also, the paper assumes HPMPAs will be designed based on mathematical fisheries models, undermining the potential to collaboratively design HPMPA networks with the full participation of fishers, especially as many fishers are sceptical both of the potential for spillover benefits and the validity of these fisheries models. These challenges need to be addressed, though, including through political will to designate HPMPAs in the face of objections from some fishers, in order to also yield evidence on the spilllover benefits of HPMPAs. This could convince more fishers of the vital role of HPMAs in boosting catches, as well as keeping people fed and restoring ocean ecosystems.

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