A new paper published in the ICES Journal of Marine Science draws together 15 years of research in the Lyme Bay Marine Protected Area (MPA), highlighting a remarkable seabed recovery from bottom trawling, and the vital contribution of collaborative management.
Led by researchers from the University of Plymouth and Blue Marine Foundation, in collaboration with local communities in Lyme Bay, the study shows how the introduction and implementation of marine conservation measures was achieved through mutual partnerships between scientists, fishing communities, NGOs and policy makers. The Lyme Bay MPA was first designated in 2008, with a statutory instrument implemented to protect around 206 sq km of the seabed from bottom towed fishing gear.
Ongoing annual monitoring over a 15-year period has shown that the whole-site management of MPAs can lead to a 95% increase in reef species, and enhance the abundance of fishes – both in terms of overall numbers and diversity – by almost 400%, while also making the seabed more resilient to extreme storms.
The paper shines a fresh light on how people and nature are intricately linked when it comes to understanding and managing coastal ecosystems, outlining how collaborative management between scientists, fishing communities, NGOs and policy makers, and support for small-scale fishermen operating within the MPA, resulted in the co-design of conservation practices and built long-term trust across sectors.
As well as highlighting these findings, the new study sketches out a path from the research to ambitious changes in marine policy, with the approaches applied in Lyme Bay being referenced in UK Government policies including the 25-Year Environment Plan.
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Posted On: 23/01/2024