PERTH: Banning fishing in sections of Australia’s Terrific Barrier Reef has succeeded in restoring fish populations to levels not noticed due to the fact the arrival of European settlers, a 30-year study has identified.
The controversial bans, which were expanded to a third of the reef region in 2004, have led to a sharp increase in the numbers and size of fish – a acquiring that could be utilised to push for related zones to be set up in other reefs around the world.
The study, which examined underwater survey information for coral trout from 1983 to 2012, identified the total mass of the fish was about two and a half occasions larger in the reserves.
Scientists said the levels had been as higher as they had been considering that the arrival of British settlers more than 200 years ago.
“There are a lot more coral trout in the reserves and their typical size was bigger,” Dr David Williamson, from James Cook University, told ABC News.The reef is one particular of the world’s most well-liked diving destinations
The findings came as welcome news for authorities seeking to safeguard the well-known 1,500-mile stretch of delicate coral reefs, which has knowledgeable a worrying loss of each coral cover and marine life.
The no-fishing zones had been expanded in 2004 from 5 per cent to 33 per cent of the marine park, despite heavy protests by some fishing groups, indigenous communities and tourism operators.
Prof John Pandolfi, from the University of Queensland, mentioned the study showed the need to have to preserve and potentially enlarge the no-fishing zones, which were boosting stocks in other places and enhancing conditions for recreational and commercial fishermen.
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