Can no-fishing zones in marine protected areas be effective for the conservation of Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows?

This study investigated the coverage and shoot density of Posidonia oceanica seagrass in no-fishing zones, fishing zones, and ports within two Special Environmental Protection Areas (Gökova and Datça Bozburun) in Türkiye that are characterized by intense boating impacts (e.g., anchor damage, mechanical disturbance). The data were collected using information based on diving observations, as well as local ecological knowledge of divers, tour boat owners, and small-scale fishers. The goal was to identify threat factors affecting P. oceanica meadows, evaluate stakeholder observations, interactions, and awareness regarding the species, examine the role of no-fishing zones in its protection, and better understand the potential contributions of stakeholders to its monitoring. Combining ecological metrics with stakeholder perspectives, the present study sought to contribute to the holistic evaluation of P. oceanica in marine protected areas. The results revealed that, in the no-fishing zones of Gökova, the coverage and shoot density of P. oceanica were higher than in the fishing zone, while in Datça Bozburun; furthermore, the coverage and shoot density were found to be relatively high in the fishing zone. Nearly half of the small-scale fishers operating in permitted fishing zones reported that P. oceanica meadows are their preferred fishing habitat. Furthermore, 81% of tour boat owners stated that they anchor in P. oceanica meadows during their tours, with an average of 3 ± 1 anchorages per day. The interviewed stakeholders also reported possessing a strong awareness of the species and being well-positioned to actively contribute to its monitoring. The study concludes with a discussion of management tools needed to protect seagrass meadows in the areas requiring regular monitoring.