Information For
Our Research
Research Management
Organisational Units
- > News
- > UOW Research Online
- > RIS
- > Research Events @ UOW
- > Staff Directory
- > ARC
- > NHMRC
South Coast Marine Parks: Benefits, Biodiversity and Baited underwater videos
Dr Pia Winberg & A/Prof. Andy Davis
Institute for Conservation Biology
University of Wollongong
Wednesday 11th March | 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Five Islands Brewery - All welcome!
RSVP: vwallace@uow.edu.au
| Hear Pia being interviewed by ABC Radio Illawarra >Audio File (4.8MB) |
The last two decades have seen a flurry of activity in research on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) as marine reserves or parks are established rapidly on a global scale. One of the triggers for the establishment of MPAs has been the dwindling recreational and commercial fish stocks. In this instance, MPAs are regarded as a complimentary tool to fisheries management, and subsequently the focus of MPA research has been to measure the recovery of targeted fish stocks. However MPAs are primarily a tool for conservation management of marine ecosystems, and a growing number of studies are expanding the research focus into effects on non-target species, whole habitat and ecosystem effects.
Here we explore the outcome of our research efforts in south coast MPAs; with a focus on adopting an experimental approach to understanding human impacts on these systems. We chronicle changes in tidal flat assemblages following their closure to bait (nipper) pumping and the responses of fish assemblages to no-take sanctuary zones. Within two years we recorded significant shifts in tidal flat biodiversity (crustaceans, molluscs and marine worms); with some species increasing up to six-fold. Our recordings of fish diversity and abundance using Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) showed few changes, indicating that fishes are slower to respond to protection. Overall our work lends support to the notion that MPAs are a form of comprehensive insurance against the unknown.
