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SeaWeb - Effects of Marine Reserves on Adjacent Fisheries

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Support for Marine Reserves

For years, scientists have promoted the idea of marine reserves -- coastal and ocean areas, where fishing is prohibited. They said it would cause fish to prosper. And for years, fishermen have opposed the reserves, concerned the lost area would harm their fishing efforts. Fishery Biologist Jim Bohnsack, however, is co-author of new research which supports the marine reserves...

The benefit of marine reserves

Scientists now say they've proven the benefits to fishermen of marine reserves--coastal or open ocean areas where fishing is prohibited. Fishery biologist Jim Bohnsack is co-author of a recent study of these no-take zones, including about 40 square kilometers around the Kennedy Space Center...

Proving marine reserves to fishermen

When scientists began supporting marine reserves--no-fishing zones along the coast or in the ocean--their plans met some opposition from fishermen concerned that with areas being restricted, their fishing would suffer. New research, however, shows that fishing benefits substantially from the reserves...

Florida's testing ground for marine reserves

As researchers around the world consider the benefits of starting marine reserves or offshore no fishing zones, they look to Florida for answers. That's because Florida has both early and substantial efforts with the no-take reserves. One of the oldest is a security area around Cape Canaveral. That and newer areas are test beds for fishery biologists like Jim Bohnsack...

Changing the future to mimic the past

Florida has several coastal and open water areas where fishing is prohibited. Called Marine Reserves, these no-take zones allow fish to reproduce and grown without threat of human taking. And for scientists like Jim Bohnsack, the Marine Reserves also give a sort of glimpse of the past...