Controversial Fishing Ban Proves Successful in the Great Barrier Reef
Monday, June 23rd, 2008A attempt by the Australian government to revive coral trout numbers in the Great Barrier Reef appears to be doing the trick.
More than 100,000 km2 of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park was rezoned to be a ‘no-take’ zone. In other words, a third of the Great Barrier Marine Park had a total fishing ban. This represented the world’s largest network of marine no-take zones and was very controversial when it was introduced four years ago. Not surprisingly, the fishing industry in particular had a huge problem with the fishing ban.
Despite the controversy of this fishing ban, it has proved to be very effective at reviving coral trout numbers. Since the ban was implemented, coral trout numbers have increased by over 60 percent in the no-take zones. This is an amazing result considering that, in other areas where no ban has been implemented, trout numbers have remained the same.
On a less-positive note, the population of other species of fish don’t appear to have changed since the ban - only coral trout numbers have increased. Also, it will take up to 15 years before coral trout numbers have had a full recovery.
Source: New Scientist
