title: Recovery potential of the world's coral reef fishes.
abstract: Continuing degradation of coral reef ecosystems has generated substantial interest in how management can support reef resilience. Fishing is the primary source of diminished reef function globally, leading to widespread calls for additional marine reserves to recover fish biomass and restore key ecosystem functions. Yet there are no established baselines for determining when these conservation objectives have been met or whether alternative management strategies provide similar ecosystem benefits. Here we establish empirical conservation benchmarks and fish biomass recovery timelines against which coral reefs can be assessed and managed by studying the recovery potential of more than 800 coral reefs along an exploitation gradient. We show that resident reef fish biomass in the absence of fishing (B0) averages ∼1,000 kg ha(-1), and that the vast majority (83%) of fished reefs are missing more than half their expected biomass, with severe consequences for key ecosystem functions such as predation. Given protection from fishing, reef fish biomass has the potential to recover within 35 years on average and less than 60 years when heavily depleted. Notably, alternative fisheries restrictions are largely (64%) successful at maintaining biomass above 50% of B0, sustaining key functions such as herbivory. Our results demonstrate that crucial ecosystem functions can be maintained through a range of fisheries restrictions, allowing coral reef managers to develop recovery plans that meet conservation and livelihood objectives in areas where marine reserves are not socially or politically feasible solutions.
authors: 1] Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3 Townsville MC, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia [2] Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 3J5, Canada [3] Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia.
authors: M Aaron
authors: MA
authors: MacNeil
authors: Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia.
authors: Nicholas A J
authors: NA
authors: Graham
authors: Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia.
authors: Joshua E
authors: JE
authors: Cinner
authors: 1] Department of Parks and Wildlife, Kensington, Perth, Western Australia 6151, Australia [2] Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
authors: Shaun K
authors: SK
authors: Wilson
authors: Coral Reef Ecosystems Division, NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Honolulu, Hawaii 96818, USA.
authors: Ivor D
authors: ID
authors: Williams
authors: 1] Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions (CEED), University of Queensland, Brisbane, St Lucia, Queensland 4074, Australia [2] Wildlife Conservation Society, Marine Programs, Bronx, New York 10460, USA.
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Maina
authors: School of Marine Science and Technology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK.
authors: Steven
authors: S
authors: Newman
authors: 1] Fisheries Ecology Research Lab, Department of Biology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA [2] Pristine Seas-National Geographic, Washington DC 20036, USA.
authors: Alan M
authors: AM
authors: Friedlander
authors: Wildlife Conservation Society, Marine Programs, Bronx, New York 10460, USA.
authors: Stacy
authors: S
authors: Jupiter
authors: School of Marine Science and Technology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK.
authors: Nicholas V C
authors: NV
authors: Polunin
authors: Wildlife Conservation Society, Marine Programs, Bronx, New York 10460, USA.
authors: Tim R
authors: TR
authors: McClanahan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D018533:Biomass; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D057894:Coral Reefs; D017753:Ecosystem; D005398:Fisheries / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology*; D060434:Herbivory; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011235:Predatory Behavior; D013997:Time Factors