This study investigated how biodiversity had changed within two separate zones in an MPA around the south of the Isle of Arran, Scotland – an NTZ, which is fully protected from fishing, and the remaining area which is open to a limited amount of fishing. Given this unique opportunity to examine how different levels of protection have affected benthic communities, we instigated a new survey of both of these zones, and a surrounding area open to all types of fishing.
The study discovered unprecedented abundance and size of monkey puzzle bryozoan (Omalosecosa ramulosa), both within and outside the reserve. This provides further evidence that with increased levels of protection, and time, ecosystems recover.
