the reserve establishment, despite the pressure of fisheries. Good numbers of herbivores are a sign of reef resilience to climate change. In the context of MPAs, protection and recovery of herbivorous fishes is of major importance to the conservation and recovery of coral cover and health. Another important finding is that despite the existence of what is called “fishing the line” (when fishermen fish right on top of the border of the sanctuary), the spillover effect was detected in a distance over 1km from the border, which contrasts with experiences in other areas with similar closures. Moreover, the study seems to show that a homogeneous habitat around the reserve can enhance spillover, which highlight the need to protect the reef as a whole in order to allow for this recovery to continue and reach areas further from the border of the CS.
The most significant of these findings is the spillover effect that was detected as this demonstrates the benefit of the protected area to the fishing grounds surrounding it. Most of the controversy surrounding MPAs concerns the benefits to fisheries, and to local communities, who rely so deeply on them. Vamizi seems to be a good example of a community managed Marine Protected Area that has shown the potential to benefit both the conservation of one of the most pristine reefs in the world, and those same communities whose livelihoods depend on it.
Photos: Pages 48-49 Fisherman Grouper, Pages 50-51 Puffer fish, both taken on a dive off the coast of Vamizi Island.
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