Book Review . . .
Stephanie Showalter

Jack Sobel and Craig Dahlgren (Island Press 2004)

“Marine ‘no-take’ reserves, areas closed to fishing and all other extractive activities, are among the most essential tools required to protect and restore the health of our oceans from multiple stressors.” In their review of marine reserves from around the globe, Marine Reserves: A Guide to Science, Design, and Use, Sobel and Dahlgren present overwhelming evidence in support of the above claim. Using case studies from the United States to Chile, Australia to Kenya, the Philippines to the Mediterranean, Sobel and Dahlgren reveal time and time again that the establishment of no-take marine reserves can protect biodiversity, increase fish biomass, enhance opportunities for non-consumptive uses, and improve scientific knowledge of the marine environment.

Marine Reserves should be required reading for anyone involved in the development of marine reserves. While not intended to be an exhaustive review as the primary scientific literature in this area is extensive, the book highlights key issues, research needs, and lessons learned and is an excellent starting point for further exploration. Marine Reserves contains a wealth of information on the current state of key marine ecosystems and fisheries, the impact of fishing on fish populations and marine habitats, and the types of benefits marine reserves can achieve when designed and implemented properly. Marine Reserves contains detailed case studies of the Channel Islands Marine Reserve Network, the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park in the Bahamas, and Belize’s marine protected area network, one of the most advanced systems in the world. Additional case studies highlight the global marine reserve experience.

An entire chapter is dedicated to the often overlooked social dimensions of marine reserves. Social factors can play a significant role in the success or failure of a particular marine reserve. Reserves established with the support of local communities and fishermen in particular are more likely to succeed than those without. The four principal socioeconomic elements of marine reserve design: decision-making arrangements, resources use rules, monitoring and enforcement, and conflict resolution mechanisms are discussed as well as how the design of a marine reserve can influence human behavior and vice versa.
Despite the fact that Marine Reserves is a review of the scientific literature related to marine reserve design, use, and benefits, it is written for a general audience and easily accessible by anyone. For example, the difference between single-species management and ecosystem management is compared to the difference between automobile and airplane maintenance. Airplanes, unlike automobiles which are serviced when a problem occurs, are maintained to prevent the failure of important components. Ecosystem management similarly seeks to prevent the failure of key components and systems. Although most readers will no doubt already have a handle on the concept of ecosystem management, such comparisons are refreshing.

No-take marine reserves are not a panacea, but they are powerful management tools that in concert with fisheries regulations, water quality controls, and other national environmental policies can relieve at least some of the pressure on the world’s oceans. At a time when our oceans are under incredible strain from human activities, Sobel and Dahlgren’s contribution to the field is not only an important educational text, but a springboard for future discussions on the use of marine reserves to protect marine ecosystems and resources. Marine Reserve is an invaluable guide for policy-makers and managers ready to embrace innovative ideas and members of the public ready to become involved in local, state, or federal marine reserve initiatives. The dissemination of this valuable scientific information can only improve the debate.
Jack Sobel is Director of Strategic Conservation Science and Policy for The Ocean Conservancy. Craig Dahlgren is the Science Director for the Perry Institute for Marine Science’s Caribbean Marine Research Center.