Restoration of fish habitats, populations, and communities

Fish habitat restoration has long been carried out with the aim of enhancing fish populations to support fisheries. Seagrass beds have been protected and restored in many countries because they are known to provide essential ecosystem services, including relevant support for fisheries. Other physical habitats, such as natural shellfish reefs, have been damaged by human activities and need to be restored. An overview is given of the different techniques used to restore marine fish habitats and populations. Beyond the regulatory aspects, which can be seen as the first step in protecting essential habitats and populations, this chapter provides concrete examples of restoration actions that can help maintain communities, preserve biodiversity, and ensure the continued exploitation of target species. While it is not possible to compensate for all the environmental damage that has led to the decline of certain species, it is possible to limit the impact and contribute to the restoration of ecological functions by acting in favor of the species concerned. Although the success of restoration interventions depends on many factors, experience shows that once a habitat is restored, fish fauna and ecological status recover rapidly. The implementation of restoration plans is expected to lead to the recovery of the fish directly and indirectly associated with the habitat, thus promoting the conservation of fish biodiversity and the management of fishery resources.