Fish Rest Areas for Hawaii

Published in 2001, Birkeland and Friedlander’s “The Importance of Refuges for Reef Fish Replenishment in Hawaii” explained the utility of no-take reserves for improving fish populations with a net benefit to overall fish numbers.  Since that time, much research on the function of marine reserves and the life history of Hawaiian fishes, along with additional successful examples of the “try wait” approach and Community-Based Sustainable Fisheries Areas in Hawaii, has made it time to revisit the topic.  The current project, partly funded by the Hawaii Community Foundation Holomua Marine Initiative Papio Grant program, synthesizes a history of marine reserves in Hawaii, an overview of how they function, and examples of how rest areas actually improve fishing outside the reserves.

The original booklet, now long since out of print, can be viewed here as a .pdf. (Click here or on the report cover, above).