Fish communities can simultaneously contribute to nature and human populations in tropical reefs.

[Press release] - Published on October 18, 2024 in Press Room, Science-Society

Foror the first time, an international team led by researchers from the University of Montpellier, the CNRS, and the FRB has estimated 29 contributions made by reef fish communities to human needs and the proper functioning of tropical coastal ecosystems on a global scale. Their work, published in the journal One Earth by a PhD student at the University, is part of the Nature Futures Framework , which proposes imagining desirable futures where humans and nature can coexist sustainably. Within this framework, this work estimated the potential contributions of nature to itself, called "Nature for Nature," as well as the contributions of nature to humans, called "Nature for People," which are not mutually exclusive.

A large-scale project

This work is the result of international collaboration (the Biodiversa+ REEF-FUTURES project, which studies 1,237 reefs worldwide, including more than 1,000 fish species) and the wide range of contributions documented therein (an estimated 29 contributions). These contributions range from the micronutrient concentration of fish and their aesthetic appeal to the diversity of the ecological roles of fish present in reefs. The contributions of fish communities are calculated based on the abundance of each species on the reefs, data collected by divers using the participatory science protocol Reef Life Survey , which has been deployed worldwide for more than 18 years. 

This work thus distinguishes four situations in which each of the dimensions "Nature for Nature" and "Nature for People" can be strong or weak. For example, the reefs of the Galapagos Islands can mainly contribute to the proper functioning of reefs, due to their ecological uniqueness and unique evolutionary history. Reef fish in French Polynesia, on the other hand, benefit both reef ecosystems and humans thanks to their great diversity, high biomass, and aesthetic appeal, which allows for both local fishing and tourism. In contrast, fish communities in Tanzania are heavily exploited by humans and no longer make significant contributions to the proper functioning of coastal marine ecosystems. 

Certain fish communities can therefore be ecologically healthy while also providing significant benefits to human populations, challenging the traditional view that conservation strategies must prioritize one over the other. These findings pave the way for interdisciplinary and participatory approaches involving ecologists, social scientists, and policymakers to optimize the management of these vulnerable ecosystems to meet both human needs and conservation goals. Only this strategy will make it possible to build a more desirable future where nature and humans can coexist sustainably. This work also highlights the challenges that must be overcome to restore reefs that have been severely degraded and/or overly impacted by human exploitation. 

With the French government aiming to make 2025 the year of the ocean in France, culminating in the organization of the^third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, this article illustrates the scale of these challenges, possible scenarios, and opportunities related to the coexistence of human populations and reef fish, which are emblematic and particularly affected by human activities. More generally, this work opens up original avenues and a methodology that can also be applied to terrestrial ecosystems and is therefore of interest beyond coastal marine ecosystems.

Reef fish play a vital role in the food chain and contribute to reef health by controlling algae populations and participating in nutrient circulation. They also contribute to human activities by stimulating the local economy through tourism and fishing. Photo: Ningaloo Reef is a coral reef located off the west coast of Australia. © Rick Stuart Smith

Joshua Cinner, professor at the University of Sydney (Australia): "One of the most interesting aspects of this article is that it identifies real 'hot spots' where reefs offer benefits for both humans and nature."

David Mouillot, professor at the University of Montpellier (France): "As the leader of the international REEF-FUTURES (Biodiversa+) project, in which we have put a lot of effort into estimating these multiple contributions of reef fish,  I see this synthesis as an achievement but also as a source of hope for implementing nature-based solutions, inspired by local examples, to steer certain tropical coastal socio-ecosystems away from their negative trajectories." 

Nicolas Mouquet, researcher at the CNRS, scientific director of the Center for Synthesis and Analysis of Biodiversity (Cesab) at the FRB in Montpellier: “Our work paves the way for addressing the essential trade-offs between ecological integrity and human well-being. By moving beyond traditional models of economic growth and adopting a post-growth approach, I believe we can truly promote sustainable coexistence between biodiversity and humanity."

Rick Stuart Smith, professor at the University of Tasmania (Australia): “Reef fish are extraordinarily important for the functioning of marine ecosystems and provide many benefits to human societies. I am certain that the general public does not realize how diverse these contributions are, and I even think that the scientific community underestimates them. For me, this study represents one of the most comprehensive accounts of the diversity of roles played by reef fish."

Keywords: Ecology, Environment, Research, Science