@article{fdi:010092670,
  title = {{E}ffects of protection on large-bodied reef fishes in the western {I}ndian {O}cean},
  author = {{S}amoilys, {M}. and {O}suka, {K}. {E}. and {R}oche, {R}. and {K}oldewey, {H}. and {C}habanet, {P}ascale},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{P}redatory and large-bodied coral reef fishes have fundamental roles in the functioning and biodiversity of coral reef ecosystems, but their populations are declining, largely due to overexploitation in fisheries. {T}hese fishes include sharks, groupers, {H}umphead wrasse ({C}heilinus undulatus), and {G}reen {H}umphead parrotfish ({B}olbometopon muricatum). {I}n the western {I}ndian {O}cean, this situation is exacerbated by limited population data on these fishes, including from conventional visual census methods, which limit the surface area surveyed. {W}e developed a rapid timed scuba swim survey approach for application over large areas for estimation of the abundance of large-bodied reef fishes and assessment of the effectiveness of marine protected areas ({MPA}s) in maintaining these species' populations. {U}sing this method, we sampled 7 regions in the western central {I}ndian {O}cean and {G}ulf of {A}den, including 2 remote reference locations where fishing is prohibited. {E}ight families were selected for the surveys from across 3 categories: pelagic, demersal, and large-bodied single species. {S}harks ({C}archarhinidae) were absent in 5 of the 7 regions, observed only in {M}ozambique and the {C}hagos {A}rchipelago. {T}unas ({S}combridae) and barracudas ({S}phyraenidae) were rarely observed (none in {M}adagascar, {D}jibouti, and {I}les {G}lorieuses). {T}he {G}iant grouper ({E}pinephelus lanceolatus) was absent in all regions, {H}umphead wrasse was absent in {C}omoros and {I}les {G}lorieuses, and {G}reen {H}umphead parrotfish was observed at only one site in {T}anzania. {T}he {MPA}s were not effective in protecting these single large-bodied species or the 4 pelagic families, except for sharks in the highly protected reference locations. {H}owever, {MPA}s with medium levels of protection were effective in maintaining the abundance of some demersal families, notably large-bodied groupers. {O}ur results support the hypothesis of local extirpation of these large-bodied fishes on many coral reefs in the western {I}ndian {O}cean.},
  keywords = {coral reefs ; endangered species ; {I}ndian {O}cean ; large-bodied fishes ; marine parks ; predatory fishes ; arrecifes de coral ; especie en peligro ; {O}c{\'e}ano {I}ndico ; parques marinos ; peces depredadores ; peces de talla grande ; {OCEAN} {INDIEN} ; {COMORES} ; {MADAGASCAR} ; {MOZAMBIQUE} ; {TANZANIE} ; {DJIBOUTI} ; {GLORIEUSES} {ILES} ; {CHAGOS} {ARCHIPEL} ; {ADEN} {GOLFE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{C}onservation {B}iology},
  volume = {[{E}arly access]},
  numero = {},
  pages = {[18 p.]},
  ISSN = {0888-8892},
  year = {2025},
  DOI = {10.1111/cobi.14430},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010092670},
}