Variation in reef fish and invertebrate communities with level of protection from fishing across the Eastern Tropical Pacific seascape

Overfishing in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) has significantly altered reef ecosystems, with poorly enforced marine protected areas (MPAs) failing to mitigate these impacts. Research across seven large MPAs, including UNESCO World Heritage sites like Coiba National Park and Galapagos, revealed that high-protection MPAs exhibit greater biomass of predatory fishes, lower densities of urchins, and higher coral cover compared to fished zones. These findings suggest that fishing down the food web has led to trophic cascades, reducing coral cover by increasing habitat-modifying macroinvertebrates. Notably, continental reefs show more pronounced effects than oceanic islands, highlighting regional differences in ecological resilience.

Edgar, G. J., Banks, S. A., Bessudo, S., Cortés, J., Guzmán, H. M., Henderson, S., Martinez, C., Rivera, F., Soler, G., Ruiz, D., & Zapata, F. A. (2011). Variation in reef fish and invertebrate communities with level of protection from fishing across the Eastern Tropical Pacific seascape. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 20(5), 730–743. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1466-8238.2010.00642.x