We have a great op in the San Juan Islands to compare marine reserves set up in ~1990 (mandatory) with bottomfish recovery zones (BRZ) were established ~7 years later (voluntary). Overall, regulations have changed over time, essentially getting more restrictive.
Methods: 300 dives since 1997; transects to compare recovery zones with paired (nearby) reserve
lingcod length: bigger in reserves (2001-2002), but not significantly differnt in 06-07. Same results with copper rockfish.
populations declining over this period 01-07, except black rockfish which have increased in population and size.
Why aren’t BRZs working better?
- Using substrate maps, we can see that BRZs have similar areas to the the reference sites and actually have proportionally more rocky habitat.
- Fishing effort is pretty even over all (e.g. along the west side of San Juan Island, Pile Point and Lime Kiln are about the same as Eagle Point)
- Compliance issues may be the problem, or the size of the BRZs may be too small
It’s been 10 years. What shall we do next?
- Change nothing
- One larger BRZ?
- Make BRZs mandatory
- Make them larger and mandatory