The Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (southern Gulf of Maine, northwest Atlantic) is partially overlappedby the Western Gulf of Maine Closure Area (WGMCA). This is a region in which mobile, bottom-disturbing ...The Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (southern Gulf of Maine, northwest Atlantic) is partially overlappedby the Western Gulf of Maine Closure Area (WGMCA). This is a region in which mobile, bottom-disturbing fishing gear has beenbanned by the New England Fishery Management Council to facilitate the rebuilding of depleted groundfish populations. We assessedthe effects and effectiveness of the WGMCA on groundfish assemblages using habitat-stratified (gravel, sand, mixed benthichabitats) sampling by means of a commercial trawler, inside and outside of the WGMCA. Sampling occurred over threemonth-long sampling periods in 2004-2005, two during the spring seasons and one during the fall season. A total of 18 specieswere analyzed for protection effects. After controlling for substratum, location and sampling season, eight groundfish species exhibitedhigher mean proportional abundance inside than outside the WGMCA while two were proportionally more abundant onaverage outside of the closure. Four species had higher mean proportional biomasses on average inside the closure and three outside.We conclude that the WGMCA may be achieving its goal of rebuilding abundance and biomass for some commercially targetedgroundfishes but not all. This study, six to seven years post-closure establishment, reveals fine-scale spatial and taxonomiccomplexity which will require a very different monitoring protocol than the one currently in place if adaptive management is to besuccessful in the展开更多
基金provided by the NOAA Fishenes Service, MassFisherman's Partnership+1 种基金Northeast Consortiumthe Pew Institute for Ocean Science
文摘The Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (southern Gulf of Maine, northwest Atlantic) is partially overlappedby the Western Gulf of Maine Closure Area (WGMCA). This is a region in which mobile, bottom-disturbing fishing gear has beenbanned by the New England Fishery Management Council to facilitate the rebuilding of depleted groundfish populations. We assessedthe effects and effectiveness of the WGMCA on groundfish assemblages using habitat-stratified (gravel, sand, mixed benthichabitats) sampling by means of a commercial trawler, inside and outside of the WGMCA. Sampling occurred over threemonth-long sampling periods in 2004-2005, two during the spring seasons and one during the fall season. A total of 18 specieswere analyzed for protection effects. After controlling for substratum, location and sampling season, eight groundfish species exhibitedhigher mean proportional abundance inside than outside the WGMCA while two were proportionally more abundant onaverage outside of the closure. Four species had higher mean proportional biomasses on average inside the closure and three outside.We conclude that the WGMCA may be achieving its goal of rebuilding abundance and biomass for some commercially targetedgroundfishes but not all. This study, six to seven years post-closure establishment, reveals fine-scale spatial and taxonomiccomplexity which will require a very different monitoring protocol than the one currently in place if adaptive management is to besuccessful in the
