Wild Tobago

Scientists are finding out more about the creatures in the ocean even as they continue to be threatened by human-induced global warming, Dr Anjani Ganase looks at recent research on coral reefs, dolphins, whale sharks and jellyfish. How will they survive human traffic and warmer oceans?   Sharks thrive in the Marine Protected Area off Cuba, Jardines de la Reina. Credit: Philip Hamilton / Ocean Image Bank Protected coral reefs mean more fish Marine Protected Areas (MPA), according to scientific studies, account for about 10% of global fish stocks. Existing MPAs make up just 8.4% of the ocean and merely 3% are fully protected and equivalent to 1244 reefs around the world. A study led by the University of Sydney in Australia has estimated the amount of fish biomass in the world’s ocean that results from the presence of no-take, marine protected areas. The study reveals the importance of MPAs to boosting fish productivity especially when associated with cora...

Fish stocks are dwindling the world over. Dr Anjani Ganase discusses how well-managed Marine Protected Areas help to protect nurseries.   All fisheries are in decline; trends in the Caribbean mirror the global statistics.   There is emerging a consensus on strategies for improving fish stocks by ensuring conservation and protection of marine ecosystems.   The solution is a holistic approach based on the establishment of “no take” marine reserves, also known as fully protected Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) where there is no fishing, recreational or commercial, allowed. We may be surprised by the solution, as many consider closing areas to fishing would reduce the fishing grounds available to the fisherfolk thereby limiting the catch. Yet, the opposite proved true, the development of well-designed and fully protected MPAs would improve overall fish catches in surrounding areas even more effectively than a fisheries management plan. So how is this possible?    ...