Marine reserves help restock fish
Marine reserves can help restock exploited fish populations on neighbouring reefs which are open to both commercial and recreational fishing. Image: Tammy616/iStockphoto An international team of scientists has gathered the first conclusive evidence that marine reserves can help restock exploited fish populations on neighbouring reefs which are open to both commercial and recreational fishing. The groundbreaking study was carried out in the Keppel Island group on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef by researchers from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (CoECRS), in conjunction with other leading research institutions, and is reported in the latest issue of the journal Current Biology. Its findings help to resolve a long-running debate in Australia and worldwide about whether marine reserves, areas closed to all forms of fishing, can help to replenish fish numbers in areas left open to fishing. Using DNA fingerprinting technology, the team of scientists tracked the dispersal pathways of baby coral trout and stripey...