Fish Stock Assessment in Artificial Reef Marine Protected Areas

Dear Colleagues,

Artificial reef marine protected areas serve as a base for epifauna, making use of organic waste released into the sea. These installations are key in shielding marine organisms from the detrimental effects of trawling while simultaneously enhancing small-scale fisheries. They can serve as a critical spawning ground for various fish species, driven by a combination of environmental factors including temperature, nutrient availability and seasonal variability, with implications for fish recruitment and population dynamics. Implementing fishing restrictions in such areas, such as prolonged or temporary trawling moratoriums, can boosting fish biomass and population recovery. In addition to their ecological advantages, these reefs aid in the improvement of fish habitats, the reduction in coastal erosion and the provision of new avenues for marine research, acting as refuges for mature marine species. A comprehensive understanding of existing underlying processes of the impact of marine protected areas on enhancing local fish populations, contributing to marine conservation and the sustainable management of fisheries, is imperative for informed MPA management and conservation strategies, ensuring the preservation of marine biodiversity and the sustenance of ecosystem integrity over the long term. This Special Issue aims to present and disseminate the most recent advances related to “Fish Stock Assessment in Artificial Reef Marine Protected Areas”. We consider contributions addressing these advances.

Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to, the following:

• The role of artificial reefs in enhancing fish recruitment and population dynamics.
• Impact of environmental factors (temperature, nutrient availability, seasonal variability) on spawning grounds within MPAs.
• Effectiveness of fishing restrictions (e.g., prolonged or temporary trawling moratoriums) on boosting fish biomass.
• Assessment of fish population recovery rates in artificially reefed areas.
• Contribution of artificial reef MPAs to the sustainability of small-scale fisheries.
• The function of artificial reefs as refugia for mature fish species.
• Evaluation of epifaunal colonization on artificial structures and its link to fish stock health.
• Long-term conservation strategies for preserving marine biodiversity in artificial reef systems.

Dr. Ioannis Ε. Batjakas
Guest Editor

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• fish
• fish stock assessment
• artificial reef
• marine protected areas
• fish conservation
• fisheries management