Line of action:

Status:

Execution date:

General Objective:

Develop a monitoring system to evaluate the effectiveness of a marine protected area based on the behavior of the species subject to protection.

Specific objectives:

• Modelling of movement patterns, use of space and behaviour of coastal species in the MPA environment based on biological and environmental parameters.
• Development of a non-invasive method for estimating natural and fishing mortality based on movement and behavior patterns.
• Development of a methodology for calculating the effectiveness of the reserve based on biological parameters, spatio-temporal patterns of behaviour and environmental factors.
• Provide advice on how to integrate the animal behaviour dimension into the design and adaptive management of a marine protected area.
• Dissemination of the role of MPAs in coastal zone management.

All the objectives set have been successfully met. The execution of the project has made it possible to generate a set of indicators aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the establishment of marine protected areas to guarantee the integrity of the space and the protection of key species such as the Raja undulata. These indicators are the result of the study carried out in the field of acoustic telemetry, focused on two typical coastal species (Labrus bergylta and Raja undulata) in the surroundings of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia Maritime-Terrestrial National Park. The proposed indicators are the following: resistance index (percentage of time that an individual is detected in the study area during a given period); ranged area (extension of an animal’s range of movement over a given period); site fidelity (ranges of movement associated with a given point around which they move consistently); activity (temporal variations in the activity of the specimens).

It is also worth highlighting the development of a methodology, based on the activity profiles of the tagged specimens, such as depth or movement index, and aimed at identifying life cycle events (mortality, survival and dispersal) and estimating mortality due to natural causes or fishing. The conclusions obtained were the following:

• Labrus bergylta: sedentary species with a small range of motion that barely leaves the MPA environment. Diurnal species, with greater activity in the central hours of the day and showing seasonal variations, but remains in the study area throughout the year, being more active in summer. Its ranged area varies depending on the size of the individual (the smaller the size, the greater the area traveled) and is restricted to rocky reefs.

• Raya undulata: species of greater activity, predominating in the male, with environmental variability (temperature) being a clear conditioning factor. A nocturnal species, the mosaic ray remains at rest half-buried on sandy bottoms during the central hours of the day. Larger distribution area, mainly occupying sandy bottoms. In addition, extended residence times during the summer months have been documented for the first time, indicating a seasonal presence.

These findings have strong implications for the role that the park may play, as temporal variation is considered in this study. Habitat and site fidelity is evident for these species. Both have well-defined habitats for space use. On the one hand, the maragota limits its movements to rocky reefs while the mosaic ray makes more extensive use of sandy bottoms. In addition, pintos and maragotas show a small range of movements at an individual level, centred on a small area within rocky reefs and even showing territorial behaviour at certain times of the year. The rays have a wider grazing area, including the rest of the seabed of the Ría de Vigo. However, an aggregation area for this species has been identified in a very specific area, to which they show fidelity from late spring to early autumn.

The probability of capture by passive fishing gear is proportional to the activity of the fish (distance traveled). Size or sex influence activity. In the case of maragotas/pintos, the youngest are the most active – small fish will be more likely to be caught because they move more, but only when they reach the gear size threshold. Male mosaic rays are more active, which could affect the sex ratio of the catch. These results demonstrate complex patterns of catchability, conditioned by the behavioral characteristics of each species, subject to temporal variations.

The results suggest that PNMTIAG could play an important role within the life cycle of R. undulata. A small fraction of the park’s funds could protect these species at different times in their cycle. This information should be considered in the design and adaptation of any proposed management measures for the species mentioned. In addition, adequate communication must be maintained with the actors involved, adapting the measures to the reality of the uses of these waters, favouring their compatibility with conservation objectives and creating trust and responsibility to promote effective governance and management. The methodology used in the TAC project has proven to be an ideal tool for the study of movement patterns.

Finally, establishing a fixed monitoring network allows conducting studies of behavioral variability that provide detailed information for making sound decisions on the design of management and control tools of the PNMTIAG. In addition, it will make it possible to study the response of populations to any management measure or to natural and man-made impacts and to evaluate their effectiveness.