Do marine reserves increase prey for California sea lions and Pacific harbor seals?

ABSTRACT: Community marine reserves are geographical areas closed to fishing activities, implemented and enforced by the same fishermen that fish around them. Their main objective is to recover commercial stocks of fish and invertebrates. While marine reserves have proven successful in many parts of the world, their success near important marine predator colonies, such as the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) and the Pacific harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardii), is yet to be analyzed. In response to the concerns expressed by local fishermen about the impact of the presence of pinnipeds on their communities' marine reserves, we conducted underwater surveys around four islands in the Pacific west of the Baja California Peninsula: two without reserves (Todos Santos and San Roque); one with

SUBMITTER: Arias-Del-Razo A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6586349 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature