Effort changes around a marine reserve: The case of the California Rockfish Conservation Area

► Commercial fishing effort before and after implementation of a marine reserve are compared. ► Effort changes between groups of vessels are compared after the marine reserve closure. ► More intensive users of the reserve area were only slightly more likely to exit after the closure. ► Level of effort for individual boats appears unaffected by marine reserve implementation. ► Effort at the reserve boundary is likely not due to attempts to capture biomass spillover.