Background/Aim
Coral reef fisheries contribute significantly to the livelihoods, food security, and economy in Pacific Island countries. In the framework of Community-Based Adaptive Management, Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAS) have emerged as building blocks for small-scale fisheries management while considering cultural and socioeconomic needs. In Fiji, the widespread ecological impacts on coral reefs, such as overfishing and habitat degradation, have catalyzed the adoption of LMMAs by coastal communities as a strategy to restore these ecosystems and the services they provide.
Methods
In this study, we collected diver-operated stereo-camera video (DOV) transects across six Fijian Islands to understand the influence of the adoption of LMMAS on reef fish assemblages. We used fish biomass as a proxy for small-scale fisheries status and classified the locations as adopters or non-adopters of LMMAs strategy. Gravity of markets and fish connectivity metrics were also included as covariates to test whether the proximity of fish markets and potential fish connectivity patterns also influence fish biomass.
Results
Our preliminary results demonstrated that fish biomass was higher in locations where communities adopted LMMAS. Similarly, we found that locations with potentially higher fish larval retention showed higher fish biomass, suggesting that ecological connectivity might play a role in contributing to small-scale fisheries in the region. In contrast, the gravity of markets was positively associated with fish biomass. Although contrary to our expectations, this result sheds light on the potential, although rarely explored, interactions between fisheries management and connectivity in supporting small-scale fisheries even in locations where market gravity is relatively higher.
Conclusion
In summary, our study tackles an emerging and timely question on the effectiveness of LMMAs on promoting small-scale fisheries benefits, while also considering often overlooked ecological factors that can influence reef fish assemblages, such as fish connectivity. Nonetheless, our results demonstrate the potential benefits of LMMAs for coral reef fisheries, as well as the need for the implementation of connectivity conservation among community-based managed area networks currently emerging in the Pacific Islands.