Effectiveness of a Marine Protected Area Network To manage the West Hawai′i Aquarium Fishery

William Walsh Hawai′i Division of Aquatic ResourcesIvor Williams Hawai′i Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit & HDAR

West Hawai′i Coral ReefMonitoring

• Fixed Belt Transects

• Timed Free Swim Surveys

• Resource Fish Surveys

• Benthic Habitat Surveys

• Coral Disease Surveys

• Jetboots Surveys

Jetboots Surveys

Mazin Submersible Technology, Inc.

1983 2007 ∆

No. Permits 5 72 1440% ↑

Total Fish Catch 30,000 360,686 1203% ↑

Total Value $159,756 $1,140,425 714% ↑

% of State Fish Catch 27% 83% 293% ↑

Change in West Hawai`i Aquarium FisheryOver 24 Years

1983 2007 ∆

No. Permits 5 72 1440% ↑

Total Fish Catch 30,000 360,686 1203% ↑

Total Value $159,756 $1,140,425 714% ↑

% of State Fish Catch 27% 83% 293% ↑

Change in West Hawai`i Aquarium FisheryOver 24 Years

82%

5%2%3%8%

Big Island Aquarium CatchFiscal Year 2007

KoleAchilles

Yellow Tang

Chevron 110 Other spp.

West Hawai'i Yellow Tang Abundance

Year1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Den

sity

(# /

100m

2 )

0

10

20

30

40

MPAs

Survey Date vs Open: 11/16/2001

FRAs Established

West Hawai'i Yellow Tang Abundance

Year1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Den

sity

(# /

100m

2 )

0

10

20

30

40

MPAs FRAs

FRAs Established

West Hawai'i Yellow Tang Abundance

Year1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Den

sity

(# /

100m

2 )

0

10

20

30

40

MPAs FRAs Open

FRAs Established

Species FRAs ρ Coast

Zebrasoma flavescens +90% 0.01* +19%Ctenochaetus strigosus +23% 0.02* +18%Acanthurus achilles -74% 0.15 -30%Naso lituratus -10% 0.65 -8%Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis +45% 0.23 +10%

Change in Abundance of Top 5 Aquarium Species1999/00 to 2006/07

Excluding YOY

‐

0.5 

1.0 

1.5 

2.0 

2.5 

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

No. per 100

m2

Year

Centropyge potteri (Potters Angel) Abundance

MPAs

FRAs

Open

Age at First Reproduction:

4-7 years

Life Span: at least 40 years!J. Claisse UHM

Yellow Tang Recruit & Juvenile Habitat

• Mid-depth - 30-60ft • Finger coral

Recruits ~3-4 cm

Prime Target Size ~5-10cm

Yellow Tang Adult Habitat• Shallow - 10-20ft • Boundary between Pavement – upper coral zone

Y-Tang Move to Adult Habitats at ~ 4-7 yr oldMaximum Lifespan >40 yrsNot Targeted As Adults

$0

$200,000

$400,000

$600,000

$800,000

$1,000,000

$1,200,000

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

400,000

Adj

uste

d Va

lue

Num

ber C

augh

t

Fiscal Year

Number and Value of Yellow TangsCaught in West Hawai′i

Value

Number

FRAs established

Density (#/100 m2)

0 5

Stud

y si

te

Lapakahi

Kamilo

Waiakailio

Puako

Anaehoomalu

Keawaiki

Kaupulehu

Makalawena

Wawaloli Beach

Wawaloli

Honokohau

Papawai

S. Oneo Bay

N. Keauhou

Kualanui Pt.

Red Hill

Keopuka

Kealakekua

Ke'ei

Kalahiki

Auau

Omakaa

Manuka

1999

FRAOpen

Control 0 5 0 5 0 10 20 30 40

20002001 2002

Zebrasoma flavescens YOY

0 10 20

2003

0 10 20

2004

0 10 20

2005

0 5 0 10 20 30

2006 2007

1.9:14.9:1

Jetboots Surveys

18 min / survey600 - 1000 m by 5m~500 -1500 fish / survey

Distance to Boundary (m)-6000 -4000 -2000 0 2000 4000 6000

Num

ber A

dult

YT's

/100

m2

0

10

20

30

40

FRA

OpenMPA

Within MPA Outside MPA

Spillover of Adults into Boundary Areas

Distance to Boundary (m)-6000 -4000 -2000 0 2000 4000 6000

Num

ber A

dult

YT's

/100

m2

0

10

20

30

40

FRA

OpenMPA

Within MPA Outside MPA

Compared to open areas, adult densities were:48% ▲ in FRAs41% ▲ in Boundary Areas

Influence of Habitat Structural ComplexitySpillover of Adults into Boundary Areas

•

Increases in Catch and Effort Since FRAs established

•

Increasing impacts of fishing on target size classes

•

Reserves boost adult stocks

•

Duration of protection is short relative to y-tang lifespan

Conclusion: West Hawai′i reserves sustain adult stocks over large part of coastline and act as a bulwark against overexploitation

West Hawai′i MPA Network Impacts on Sustainability of Stocks and of AQ Fishery

DAR West Hawai′i

William WalshPh.D. University of Hawai′i Mānoa

Ivor WilliamsPh.D. University of Newcastle Upon Tyne

Brent CarmanB.S. Humboldt State University

Steve Cotton B.S. University of Hawai′i Hilo

Laura LivnatB.S. Washington State University

Kosta StamoulisB.S. University of Hawai′i Hilo

Kara OsadaB.S. University of Hawai′i Hilo