Decadal increase in the number of recreational users is concentrated in no-take marine reserves.
In coastal areas, demographic increase is likely to result in greater numbers of recreational users, with potential consequences on marine biodiversity. These effects may also occur within Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which are popular with recreational users. Our analysis builds on data collected over a ten-year period during three year-round surveys to appraise changes in recreational boating activities in coral ecosystems. Results show that the number of boaters has greatly increased, particularly so within MPAs during weekends and the warm season, when peaks in boat numbers have become more frequent. We also observed that the number of anchored boats has increased over the period. These changes may be resulting in biophysical impacts that could be detrimental to conservation objectives in MPAs. This steady increase over time may cause changes in the spatial and temporal distribution of users and in their practices, thus highlighting the importance of monitoring recreational activities.
IFREMER, UR Lagons, Ecosystèmes et Aquaculture Durable en Nouvelle Calédonie (LEAD-NC), 101 promenade Roger Laroque, BP 2059, 98846 Nouméa Cedex, New Caledonia; IRD, UMR ENTROPIE, Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, 52 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860, Perpignan, Cedex 9, France. Electronic address: charles.gonson@ifremer.fr.
Charles
C
Gonson
IFREMER, UR Lagons, Ecosystèmes et Aquaculture Durable en Nouvelle Calédonie (LEAD-NC), 101 promenade Roger Laroque, BP 2059, 98846 Nouméa Cedex, New Caledonia; Laboratoire d'Excellence LABEX Corail, France. Electronic address: http://www.labex-corail.fr.
Dominique
D
Pelletier
Agence des Aires Marines Protégées, 16 quai de la douane, BP 42932, 29229 Brest Cedex 2, France.
Elodie
E
Gamp
Squale, 22 rue Gabriel Laroque, 98800 Nouméa, New Caledonia.
Bastien
B
Preuss
BP 16856, 98804 Nouméa Cedex, New Caledonia.
Isabelle
I
Jollit
IRD, UMR ENTROPIE, Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, 52 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860, Perpignan, Cedex 9, France.
Jocelyne
J
Ferraris
D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa; D044822:Biodiversity; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D057894:Coral Reefs; D006801:Humans; D011998:Recreation
Coral reef ecosystem; MPA; Mooring practices; New Caledonia; Recreational uses; Spatio-temporal pattern