MEPS 264:15-20 (2003)  -  doi:10.3354/meps264015

ABSTRACT: The use of no-take marine reserves as fisheries management tools is controversial. A major expectation of marine reserves is that they will become net exporters of adult biomass (the Œspillover effect¹). Herein, we show that the biomass of the surgeonfish Naso vlamingii tripled over 18 yr (1983 to 2001) in a reserve at Apo Island, Philippines. Over time, the biomass of N. vlamingii increased by a factor of 40 outside but close to the reserve boundaries (200 to 250 m) but not at greater distances (250 to 500 m). In 2000/2001 hook-and-line catch per unit effort (CPUE) for N. vlamingii was 45 times higher within 200 m of the reserve boundary than for all other fishing grounds combined, with 62.5% of the hook-and-line catch records being recorded within 200 m either side of the reserve, in just 11% of the reef fishing area. This comprises some of the best evidence that reserves can benefit fisheries by spillover.

KEY WORDS: Marine reserves · Fisheries management · Naso vlamingii · Philippines · Spillover