Rotational closures have potential fisheries benefits, yet their impact on coral cover is unknown. Research has shown that permanent closures can protect herbivorous fish, indirectly benefiting corals, but these observations may not apply when closed periods alternate with fishing. Here, we examine how rotational closures affect coral, focusing on systems with the potential to switch between alternative stable states, a context in which temporary closures may have persistent effects. We show that rotational closures can trigger coral recovery, and in some contexts lead to better coral recovery than fixed closures of similar size. Such benthic effects are only possible if closures last long enough for change to occur. We also note that very large fixed or rotating closures may concentrate fishing effort in areas where fishing remains permitted, leading to lower overall coral cover. Our findings offer crucial guidance to managers regarding rotational closures’ potential advantages and drawbacks.

中文翻译：

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轮流关闭渔业可以增强具有替代状态​​的系统中的珊瑚恢复


轮流关闭具有潜在的渔业效益，但其对珊瑚覆盖的影响尚不清楚。研究表明，永久禁渔期可以保护草食性鱼类，间接使珊瑚受益，但当禁渔期与捕鱼期交替时，这些观察结果可能不适用。在这里，我们研究轮流关闭如何影响珊瑚，重点关注有可能在替代稳定状态之间切换的系统，在这种情况下，临时关闭可能会产生持久影响。我们表明，轮流关闭可以触发珊瑚恢复，并且在某些情况下比类似规模的固定关闭导致更好的珊瑚恢复。只有当封闭持续足够长的时间以发生变化时，这种底栖效应才有可能发生。我们还注意到，非常大的固定或旋转封闭可能会将捕捞活动集中在仍然允许捕捞的地区，导致整体珊瑚覆盖率降低。我们的研究结果为管理者提供了关于轮换关闭的潜在优点和缺点的重要指导。