Surveys of the subtidal reef biota of the Kent Group Marine Nature Reserve 2014-2017
Surveys of subtidal rocky reefs were conducted in the Kent Group Marine Nature Reserve and adjacent external locations open to fishing as part of a broader study into the effectiveness of marine protected areas (MPAs) in Australian temperate waters. The reserve was established in February 2005, and is zoned into two levels of protection. Approximately half the reserve is “no-take” where all fishing activities are restricted, the other half is restricted-take, where activities such as abalone, rock lobster, and scale fisheries are allowed, with the notable exclusion of gillnetting. The survey methods included diver-baser estimation of fish size, diversity and abundance, as well as macro invertebrate and algae abundance, utilising an identical methodology to that applied in corresponding studies in Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, New South Wales and Victoria. Surveys were undertaken in June 2004 (22 sites), June 2005 (27 sites), June 2006 (27 sites) and June 2007 (28 sites), July 2008 (21 sites), June 2009 (21 sites), June?July 2011 (27 sites), June 2012 (22 sites), March-April 2013 (17 sites) and June 2017 (31 sites). These surveys complimented baseline studies undertaken in 1992 and 2000, prior to the declaration of the reserve.