Increased Disease Calls for a Cost-Benefits Review of Marine Reserves

Marine reserves (or No-Take Zones) are implemented to protect species and habitats, with the aim of restoring a balanced ecosystem. Although the benefits of marine reserves are commonly monitored, there is a lack of insight into the potential detriments of such highly protected waters. High population densities attained within reserves may induce negative impacts such as unfavourable trophic cascades and disease outbreaks. Hence, we investigated the health of lobster populations in the UK’s Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) at Lundy Island. Comparisons were made between the fished, Refuge Zone (RZ) and the un-fished, No-Take Zone (NTZ; marine reserve). We show ostensibly positive effects such as increased lobster abundance and size within the NTZ; however, we also demonstrate apparent negative effects such as increased injury and shell disease. Our findings suggest that robust cost-benefit analyses of marine reserves could improve marine reserve efficacy and subsequent management strategies.海洋保护区（Marine Reserves，亦称禁捕区No-Take Zones）的设立旨在保护物种种群与栖息生境，以恢复生态系统的平衡状态。尽管学界通常会对海洋保护区的益处开展监测，但针对这类高度保护海域可能存在的潜在负面影响却缺乏深入认知。保护区内种群密度过高，可能引发不利的营养级联效应、疾病暴发等负面影响。为此，我们针对英国伦迪岛海域的海洋保护区（Marine Conservation Zone, MCZ）内的龙虾种群健康状况展开了研究。研究对比了允许捕捞的避难区（Refuge Zone, RZ）与未捕捞的禁捕区（No-Take Zone, NTZ；即海洋保护区）的相关情况。结果显示，禁捕区内龙虾的丰度与个体规格均有所提升，看似为积极效应；但同时也发现了损伤率升高、外壳病害增多等明显的负面效应。本研究结果表明，对海洋保护区开展严谨的成本效益分析，有助于提升海洋保护区的实施效能，并优化后续的管理策略。