You can dare to say whatever you like. The problem is that the experimental results dare to tell another story: Studies have consistently shown that organi

You can dare to say whatever you like. The problem is that the experimental results dare to tell another story: Studies have consistently shown that organisms within marine reserves tend to grow larger and live longer than individuals in adjacent unprotected areas. Monitoring results from 89 no-take marine reserves around the world have shown that, on average, fish density, biomass, size, and diversity all increased within marine reserves (Halpern 2003, Lester et al. 2009). This is very important because fish that are larger and older tend to produce significantly more eggs and larvae than smaller fish. Also, larvae produced from older fish tend to have a higher survival rate (Francis et al. 2007) [^1] The behavior of the commercial fisherman near the MPAs in New Zealand is extremely apropos: For reasons not fully understood, when areas are closed to fishing, snapper aggregate within them, forming large resident populations. Spiny rock lobsters (crayfish to New Zealanders) do the same. Their density inside the reserve is about 15 times higher than outside. Commercial crayfishermen have cashed in on the reserves success because the outward migration of crayfish—a process marine biologists call spillover—brings the crustaceans to their pots, strategically placed just outside the boundary. These former skeptics are now some of the reserves staunchest defenders. They refer to it as our reserve and act as marine minutemen, reporting poachers and boundary cheats. ... Reserves where fishing is banned are now seen as potential stud farms and fish hatcheries, replenishing the surrounding seas. [^2] [^1]: http://marineprotectedareas.noaa.gov/pdf/helpful-resources/do_no_take_reserves_benefit_adjacent_fisheries.pdf http://marineprotectedareas.noaa.gov/pdf/helpful-resources/d... [^2]: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/04/new-zealand-coast/warne-text/2 http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/04/new-zealand-coast/...