conservation
marine
Q & A - Fabio Favoretto Please tell us about your background and how you began to specialize in marine ecology. While diving I always wondered why things are where they are, why that coral is in that particular position? Why in some places do you see only some species of fish? These kinds of question lead me to study marine ecology. Now those questions just became more elaborated, but it is really an endless pursuit to satisfy curiosity that makes you want to be a scientist. I graduated at the University of Trieste in Italy in Marine Ecology and then I moved to Mexico in the Gulf of California to do my PhD in Marine Seascape Ecology. In the Gulf of California, the beauty and the biodiversity of the seascapes inspired me to use my research to improve monitoring tools and help inform stakeholders and the government for improved conservation strategies.
Why are reef environments in the southern Gulf of Mexico important to study and protect from overfishing and environmental damage? The southern Gulf of Mexico is a land of legends, pirates, and beautiful beaches. Today, this area is a huge tourist destination. Population increased and as a result, there has been increased interest in eating more and consuming more of what the ocean and its reefs can give. However, there are some places that have not yet been compromised so much beyond the point of no return, where you can still see glimpses of the majesty of pristine nature. The immense biodiversity of the second largest coral reef system in the world is not only a hotspot to defend for the beauty of it, but also because, on it,
depends the livelihood of millions of peoples directly and all of us on the planet indirectly. Overfishing cause immense disruption, it can turn coral reefs into wastelands, complicate the relationship human beings have with nature and between themselves. The environmental damage is more obvious when we see the direct damage caused, such as with polluted river discharge and the changes in coastal areas made to make room for hotels or industries. All these can cooperate in a dreadful concerto that we can stop only by giving nature its space and time to recover by defending the last pillars of wilderness.
Why have you focused on isolated reefs in your recent study, as opposed to only studying coastal reefs? Isolated coral reefs are considered to be so far away that human activity does not affect them. In particular, they are considered safe from overfishing because are dubbed too far for being overexploited. However, in our study we show that due to the technological improvement of the fisheries (e.g. better engines, boats etc.) even those once pristine places are under direct threat. So, we wanted to compare two isolated reefs system, one protected by a Marine Protected Area where fishing is regulated or prohibited, against another reef system that was under no protection and fishery could be unregulated.
Right: Beautiful coral reef seascape in Alacranes reef full of life. Photo credit: Mares Mexicanos, Diego Gamero. All rights reserved. Š NatureVolve digital magazine. All rights reserved.
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