Assessing the Contribution of Marine Protected Areas to the Trophic Functioning of Ecosystems: A Model for the Banc d’Arguin and the Mauritanian Shelf

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) like the Banc d'Arguin National Park play a significant role in sustaining larger ecosystems, contributing up to 13% to total consumption and supporting 23% of production on the Mauritanian shelf. A study using food web models revealed that 15 out of 29 exploited species rely on the Banc for over 30% of their diet, highlighting its critical trophic function. The research applied Ecopath with Ecosim to analyze data from 1991-2006, accounting for fisheries, food web structure, and spatial distribution while addressing knowledge gaps through multiple models. Findings indicated that increased fishing pressure led to declines in high-trophic-level biomass and catch, confirming overexploitation. Simulations further showed that additional fleets could reduce outside MPA catches by 23%, underscoring the importance of MPAs in maintaining ecosystem balance.

Guénette, S., Meissa, B., & Gascuel, D. (2014). Assessing the Contribution of Marine Protected Areas to the Trophic Functioning of Ecosystems: A Model for the Banc d’Arguin and the Mauritanian Shelf. PLoS ONE, 9(4), e94742. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0094742