Impact of marine protected areas on economical important coral reef fish communities: An evaluation of the biological monitoring of coral reef fish in Anambas Islands, Indonesia

Abstract. Putra RD, Siringiringo RM, Suryanti A, Sari NWP, Sinaga M, Hidayati NV, Hukom FD, Abrar Makatipu PC, Sianturi R, Ilham Y. 2021. Impact of marine protected areas on economical important coral reef fish communities: An evaluation the biological monitoring in Anambas Islands, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 4169-4181. The use Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is core strategy to reduce impact anthropogenic stressor fisheries, especially reducing overexploitation fisheries resources and destructive fishing which this plays a significant role conservation biodiversity populations. We conducted study over 4 years evaluate assess MPAs economically Islands. compared density, size, biomass, diversity indices from seven families (Acanthuridae, Haemulidae, Lethrinidae, Lutjanidae, Scaridae, Siganidae, Serranidae) using Underwater Visual Census (UVC) with total 12 stations (70-m transect). Multivariate analysis variance (MANOVA) was used reserve protection fish, several ecological were compare potential change diversity. also measured rate cover identify effectiveness MPAs. After studies, our result showed that there an increase reefs. Fish diversity, biomass increased by 244%, 257%, 179% respectively. There no difference among stations. Economical Islands restored overtimes after restriction protection, but does not through time. In addition, government managed community awareness significantly influenced decreasing practices overexploited species cover. environmental condition natural disturbance, including thermal stress high sedimentation, play key recovery besides area.