Using no-take marine reserves as a tool for evaluating rocky-reef fish resources in the western Mediterranean

13 páginas, 6 figuras, 5 tablas.The use of MPAs to recover fish stocks in littoral areas of the western Mediterranean has made it possible to obtain time dataseries on\udthe biomass evolution over the last decade. The biomass of six fully protected MPAs increased between two- and threefold over a\udperiod of five years. After this time the biomass remained stable. This pattern allowed us to adjust logistic curves between the\udbiomass and protection time, and to estimate the carrying capacity (K) of each site. In the present study we investigate the relationships\udbetween carrying capacity (K) and habitat characteristics at each protected site. The relationships between habitat/environmental\udvariables and K are analysed by applying generalized linear models. Environmental descriptors showing major effects on biomass are\udrelated to depth, exposure, rugosity, and offshore slope at different spatial scales. Comparison of observed and predicted values using\udthe model for exploited sites in the Balearic Islands made it possible to determine their conservation status. This empirical approach to\udthe relationships between environmental factors and fish assemblage biomass could constitute a very useful tool when traditional\udfishery management based on catch and effort data from the artisanal and recreational fleets is difficult to apply.This paper is mostly a result of the projects funded by the Balearic\udregional Government for the development of MPAs in the Balearic\udIslands and the co-funded EU projects LIFE 00NAT/E/7303, IFOP\udES.R.BAL.3.1.04, ES.R.BAL.3.1.07 and FEP 321NBAL00001.Peer reviewe