MEASURING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NO-TAKE RESERVES IN PROTECTING REEF FISH COMMUNITIES IN THE ANDAMAN ISLANDS - conducted by Sapna from NCBS

Coral reef fishing results in direct loss of diversity and abundance of fish populations on coral reefs. The fishery typically targets higher trophic groups that play important functional roles on reefs, making this system particularly vulnerable to the effects of over exploitation, with impacts that flow to the rest of the ecosystem, reducing its overall resilience and is implicated in reef collapse. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) protect part of the reef from the negative impacts of fishing through the creation of no-take zones and through management of fishing practices. Moreover, protected fish populations inside the MPAs can help replenish fished populations outside through emigration of fish to fished areas. However, with reefs being subjected to ever increasing fishing pressures, there is further depletion of fish stocks which may have serious consequences for reef health and recovery. This study aims to assess whether MPAs in South Andamans are indeed effective in protecting fish populations within the reserve and generating spill-over of fish to nearby reefs, thereby reducing the impacts of fishing.
The study area for this project is the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park located in Wandoor, South Andaman Islands. The study will be conducted from December 2011 to May 2012. Coral reefs inside and outside the protected area will be sampled to assess fishing impacts and spillover effects. Data will be collected through SCUBA diving and social interviews. This study will help assess the effectiveness of MPAs and their importance in supporting local fisheries through mitigation of fishing impacts in unprotected reef areas.