Herbivorous Reef Fishes of South Sinai Marine Protected Areas (Gulf of Aqaba, Egypt): Influence of Fisheries Management and Protection Status

No-take fishery reserves are the most effective in maintaining the richness, body size, and biomass of herbivorous reef fishes, with total biomass 4.3 times higher than in heavily fished areas. The study, conducted across 30 reef sites in the Gulf of Aqaba, Egypt, revealed that heavily fished reefs had a skewed size structure, with smaller individuals (less than 20 cm) dominating and larger species (> 35 cm) accounting for less than 1% of biomass. In contrast, no-take zones exhibited a more balanced size distribution, with large-bodied target species contributing significantly to biomass. Only two regions—Ras Mohammed and Sharm El-Sheikh (unfished) and Nabq (moderately fished)—met the global mean herbivorous fish biomass target. These findings underscore the critical role of strong fisheries management in preventing overfishing and preserving coral reef health.

El-Haddad et al., K. M. (2022). Herbivorous Reef Fishes of South Sinai Marine Protected Areas (Gulf of Aqaba, Egypt): Influence of Fisheries Management and Protection Status. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 26(5), 681–705. https://doi.org/10.21608/ejabf.2022.264541