Effects of fishing pressure and trophic group on abundance and spillover across boundaries of a no-take zone

We investigated factors influencing fish abundance and emigration across the boundaries of a no-take zone (NTZ), and its adjacent fished zones, within the Nabq Managed Resource Protected Area, South Sinai, Egyptian Red Sea. Underwater visual census of eight families of reef fish was undertaken at three depths across the whole NTZ (1.2 km), and for a similar distance into the adjacent fished zones. Because most fishing occurs in shallow water, the effect of the NTZ changed with depth. On reef flat transects (1 m depth), seven families showed significantly higher abundance in the NTZ, whereas at 10 m depth only two herbivorous families, Acanthuridae (surgeonfishes) and Siganidae (rabbitfishes) showed a significant difference, both being more abundant in the fished zones, an effect most likely due to reduced competition or predation. To look for evidence of emigration (spillover) of fish from the NTZ, data were also tested for evidence of gradients in abundance extending from within the NTZ to within the fished zones. In shallow water six families showed significant declines in abundance moving away from the centre of the NTZ, whereas at 10 m, the only significant gradients were for acanthurids and siganids, both becoming more abundant moving further into the fished zones. Comparisons of estimated fish length between areas also showed significant differences. The results indicate that at Nabq, while fishing reduces the abundance of most families, especially predators, abundance of some families and species, especially herbivores, may increase under light fishing pressure. Thus, spillover may occur to an extent and in a direction depending on trophic group and fishing intensity.