PRIME VALUTAZIONI DEGLI EFFETTI DELLA PROTEZIONE SULL’ITTIOFAUNA DI FONDO ROCCIOSO NELLA COSTA OCCIDENTALE DELL’ISOLA DELL’ASINARA PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF PROTECTION ON ROCKY FISH ASSEMBLAGES IN THE WESTERN COAST OF ASINARA ISLAND

Coastal fish fauna from a recently established Mediterranean MPA and from an adjacent non-protected zone near its boundary were compared to evaluate the effects of protection. A remarkable “reserve effect” was detected for the whole assemblage in terms of both species richness and abundance. Moreover, a moderate spillover effect outside the MPA was observed for several target species.