NERP TE Project 8.1 - Monitoring the ecological effects of the Great Barrier Reef Zoning Plan on mid- and outer-shelf reefs, 2011-2014 (AIMS)

Research Project

Researchers: Australian Institute of Marine Science (Associated with) ,  Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) (Associated with) ,  Hugh Sweatman (Point of contact, principalInvestigator) ,  Sweatman, Hugh, Dr (Key party responsible for gathering information and conducting research) ,  eAtlas Data Manager (publisher, Point of contact)

Full description The rezoning of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP) in 2004 increased the number and extent of ‘no-take’ areas within the Park. This project surveys pairs of reefs, one in a ‘no-take’ or green zone and the other a similar reef where fishing is allowed (blue zone), in five regions of the GBRMP. Green and blue zones will be surveyed for the abundance and size of fishery species, particularly coral trout, as well as wider effects on coral reef communities. The results of reef surveys will be used to:

1. Track dynamics of populations of target fish species and by-catch species, such as reef sharks.

2. Track indirect effects of protection from fishing in terms of populations of non-target fish species. Since many exploited species are carnivorous, differences in their numbers may in turn affect the abundance of their prey (and potentially cause more extensive “trophic cascades”) as well as other community components that are related to resilience such as numbers of herbivorous fishes.

3. Track potential ecosystem effects of protection from fishing, such as increased coral recruitment and coral cover due to increased herbivorous fish numbers, and reduced incidence of coral disease (due to lower numbers of coral-feeding butterflyfishes inside no-take areas)

Notes Credit
This project was funded by the Australian Government's Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment through the National Environmental Research Program Tropical Ecosystems Hub with co-investment from project partners and collaborators.

Data time period: 2011-07-01 to 31 12 2014

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