Rapid effects of a fishing closure on whitefish (Coregonus maraena) in the northern Baltic Sea

Abstract

Areas closed to fishing year-round (no-take zones, NTZs) or during spawning time (spawning closures) are used as a management tool to increase declining fish populations. We evaluated the effects of a 147 km2 NTZ and a 3980 km2 spawning closure on whitefish populations in the northern Baltic Sea, and also accounted for fish consumption by seals and cormorants. Fish monitoring with multimesh gillnets in 2011–2016 showed a significant increase in catch per unit effort (CPUE) of mature whitefish (> 30 cm) both in the spawning closure and the NTZ compared with the reference area open to fishing. The rate of increase was significantly higher in the NTZ than in the spawning closure. Our results suggest that NTZs may strengthen coastal fish populations in temperate regions and that also seasonal closures under a critical period of the life cycle may benefit the populations.

Published in

Boreal Environment Research
2021, volume: 26, pages: 89-104

SLU Authors

• Berkström, Charlotte

  • Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Stockholm University

• Florin, Ann-Britt

  • Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Fredriksson, Ronny

  • Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Lundström, Karl

  • Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Bergström, Ulf

  • Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

Coastal and sea areas

Global goals (SDG)

SDG14 Life below water

UKÄ Subject classification

Fish and Aquacultural Science
Fish and Wildlife Management

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/113375