NEW PAPERS in #conservation that seem to contradict each other about whether marine protected areas (MPAs) effectively reduce industrial fishing

The first paper finds a lot of industrial fishing in all coastal MPAs, which is alarming because there does not seem to be much protection at all: buff.ly/S9IIg0t

The second paper finds very little industrial fishing in the highly regulated and strictly protected MPAs: buff.ly/HYHfwwh

How is that possible? Quite simple - the second paper only looks at a small subset of strictly regulated MPAs. They have good enforcement, and may never had any fishing in the first place - so very little occurs there now