Journal Article

Restocking Herbivorous Fish Populations As a Social-Ecological Restoration Tool in Coral Reefs

Abelson, Avigdor, Regoniel, Patrick, Obolski, Uri, Hadany, Lilach

2016

Overview

The degradation of the world's coral reefs has aroused growing interest in ecological restoration as a countermeasure, which is widely criticized, mainly due to cost-effectiveness concerns. Here, we propose the restocking of herbivorous fish as a restoration tool, based on supply of young fish to degraded reefs, with the aims of: 1. Buildup of a critical fish biomass for basic ecosystem functions (e.g. grazing); 2. Increased fishing yields, which can sustain coastal communities, and consequently; 3. Reduced reef destruction and better local compliance with fishery policies. We present the rationale of the restocking approach as both a reef restoration and a fishery management tool, and examine its pros and cons. This approach requires, however, further social-ecological and aquaculture research in order to support the critical stages of its implementation.

• Publisher: Frontiers Research Foundation,Frontiers Media S.A
• Subject: Aquaculture / Biodegradation / Biodiversity / Biomanipulation / Commercial fishing / Community / Coral reefs / Destructive fishing / Ecological function / ecological-social restoration / ecosystem management / Ecosystems / Environmental restoration / Feedback / Fish / Fish populations / fish restocking / Fisheries / Fisheries management / Fishery management / Fishery policies / Fishery policy / Fishing / Habitats / Herbivorous fish / Herbivorous fishes / Marine / Restocking / Trends