Effects of Marine Reserve Creation in Single Species and Prey-Predator Models

Abstract: Single species fisheries and prey-predator models with marine protected areas (MPA) are studied. The single species case is considered when the fishing effort is around the species extinction threshold and the influence of implementing MPA on catch quantity are studied. In the prey-predator fishery model, the situation with the fishing effort close to the predator extinction value is considered and the effects of implementing MPA are discussed with the focus on MPA sizes assuring an acceptable catch level (i.e. food security) and the sustainability of both the predator and prey populations.