Is the recent Cap Roux Marine Protected Area (France, Var) an efficient tool to sustain professional fisheries ?

8e Forum halieumétrique, La Rochelle, juin 2007

Catherine Seytre, Patrice Francour

EA 3156 « Gestion de la Biodiversité »

Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis

The Cap Roux Marine Protected Area

Initiated by professional fishermen

Management tool

The Cap Roux Marine Protected Area

- Protected since 2004

- 450 ha

- Habitats available

Monitoring objectives

Beginning of Reserve Effect Effect of MPA on professional fishermen activities

Methods

Experimental net fishing

Underwater visual censuses : Fish Ecological Index (FEI)

Sampling method of fish assemblages : Experimental net fishing

PrinciplePrinciple:

Net fishing carried out by a professional fisherman Standardisation of fishing tools

Calculation:Calculation:

Biomass Species number

Advantages:Advantages:

Assessment of reserve effect on profesionnal fishermen activities

Complements UVC

Sampling method of fish assemblages : FEI

PrinciplePrinciple: 6 censuses Presence / absence of target species Size class (small/medium vs large)

CalculationCalculation: Relative species richness Mean Index Cumulative Index Coefficient of Variation

Bio-indicatorBio-indicator: Easy and quick to implement Results pertinence: highlights fishing and spearfishing pressure

Results

Experimental Experimental net fishing:net fishing:

Autumn 2006Autumn 2006

1,5 kg / 6 species1,5 kg / 6 species

9 kg / 9 species9 kg / 9 species

2,4 kg / 4 species2,4 kg / 4 species

Results

Relative species richness:Relative species richness:

10

12

14

16

18

20

Winter05

Spring05

Autumn05

Winter06

Autumn06

Winter07

Spring07

Rel

ativ

e sp

ecie

s ric

hnes

s

Inside Reserve

Outside North

Outside South

Little difference IR / OR

IR values more constant

Results

MeanMean IndexIndex:

5

15

25

35

45

Winter05

Spring05

Autumn05

Winter06

Autumn06

Winter07

Spring07

Mea

n In

dex

(%)

Inside Reserve

Outside North

Outside South

Little difference (OR/IR) except in autumn 2005

Poaching in 2006?

Results

Cumulative Index:Cumulative Index:

15

25

35

45

55

Winter05

Spring05

Autumn05

Winter06

Autumn06

Winter07

Spring07

Cum

ulat

ive

Inde

x (%

)

Inside Reserve

Outside North

Outside South

IR values > OR

IR values more constant

Important seasonal fluctuations OR

Results

Coefficient of variation:Coefficient of variation:

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Winter05

Spring05

Autumn05

Winter06

Autumn06

Winter07

Spring07

CV

(%

) Inside Reserve

Outside North

Outside South

Higher CVs IR high variability

Assemblages stabler OR

Conclusion

FEI in the MPAFEI in the MPA Mean index similar Higher Cumulative index Higher Coefficient of variation Species Richness less variable

Experimental fishingExperimental fishing Biomass and Specific Richness are higher

Preliminary study of a recent Marine Protected Preliminary study of a recent Marine Protected AreaArea

First stage of the reserve effect

Results of FEI in 2006: due to poaching?

Inside the MPA, the fish assemblage has become more abundant, but is still over dispersed

Conclusion

Preliminary study of a recent Marine Protected Preliminary study of a recent Marine Protected AreaArea

• FEI - species list adapted to small scale fisheries

- noticeable method to detect early reserve effect

• FEI (UVC) and Experimental Fishing: two complementary methods

• Professional Fishermen implication: the best way to ensure MPA success in the future

• MPA dynamic: within 3 years, a reserve effect