Interdisciplinary Center for Coastal Studies, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico; Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.
Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico; Departamento de Ecología e Hidrología, Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, Murcia, Spain.
Adv Mar Biol. 2014;69:129-52. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-800214-8.00004-9.
The marine managed areas (MMAs) of the U.S. Caribbean are summarized and specific data-rich cases are examined to determine their impact upon fisheries management in the region. In this region, the productivity and connectivity of benthic habitats such as mangroves, seagrass and coral reefs is essential for many species targeted by fisheries. A minority of the 39 MMAs covering over 4000km(2) serve any detectable management or conservation function due to deficiencies in the design, objectives, compliance or enforcement. Fifty percent of the area within MMA boundaries had no-take regulations in the U.S. Virgin Islands, while Puerto Rico only had 3%. Six case studies are compared and contrasted to better understand the potential of these MMAs for fisheries management. Signs of success were associated with including sufficient areas of essential fish habitat (nursery, spawning and migration corridors), year-round no-take regulations, enforcement and isolation. These criteria have been identified as important in the conservation of marine resources, but little has been done to modify the way MMAs are designated and implemented in the region. Site-specific monitoring to measure the effects of these MMAs is needed to demonstrate the benefits to fisheries and gain local support for a greater use as a fisheries management tool.
美国加勒比地区的海洋管理区（MMAs）概述，并对具体的数据丰富案例进行了研究，以确定它们对该地区渔业管理的影响。在该地区，红树林、海草和珊瑚礁等底栖生境的生产力和连通性对渔业所针对的许多物种至关重要。由于设计、目标、合规或执法方面的缺陷，覆盖超过 4000 平方公里的 39 个 MMAs 中只有少数几个具有任何可察觉的管理或保护功能。在美属维尔京群岛，50%的 MMA 边界内有禁止捕捞区，而波多黎各只有 3%。对六个案例研究进行了比较和对比，以更好地了解这些 MMA 对渔业管理的潜力。成功的迹象与包括足够的重要鱼类栖息地（苗圃、产卵和迁徙走廊）、全年禁止捕捞区、执法和隔离区有关。这些标准已被确定为保护海洋资源的重要因素，但在修改该地区 MMA 的指定和实施方式方面几乎没有采取任何措施。需要进行特定地点的监测，以衡量这些 MMA 的效果，从而展示对渔业的好处，并获得当地支持，将其更多地用作渔业管理工具。
