Good News: World’s largest no-fishing zone helps tuna population recover
BY READERS DIGEST
27th Oct 2022 Good News
A no-fishing zone nearly four times the size of California has been found to have restorative effects on local tuna populations
The world’s largest no-fishing zone is almost four times the size of California and has been found to help restore populations of tuna and other migratory fish around its borders.
Fishing is banned inside the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in Hawaii, creating a Marine Protected Area (MPA) which acts as a sanctuary for marine life.
What is a Marine Protected Area?
A Marine Protected Area is a place at sea where environmentally-damaging activities are restricted. This includes certain types of fishing and extractive activities such as mining.
"A Marine Protected Area acts as a sanctuary for marine life"
MPAs serve many purposes. They can help protect habitats and marine life, as well as restoring the productivity of oceans. They are also used for scientific study, tourism and sustainable fishing.
What does it have to do with tuna?
Before now it was believed that no MPA could be big enough to protect species like tuna, which travel long distances. However, a new study has found that the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument has increased the catch rate of tuna by 54 per cent in nearby waters, while the catch rates for all fish species combined increased by eight per cent.
The protected area was not created specifically to protect tuna, but rather to protect biodiversity and culturally important areas. However, it has had a knock-on effect for the tuna population. This is especially important for Hawaiian locals, as yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna are important to Hawaiian culture and diet.
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