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Assess the impact of minimum landing size regulations on fish size and reproductive maturity in the Canary Islands.

March 4, 2026PLoS ONEOpen Access

Unintended evolutionary consequences of a minimum landing size regulations: Evidence and implications of fisheries-induced evolution

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Findings reveal fisheries-induced evolution linked to minimum landing size regulations, highlighting conservation needs.

Assess the impact of minimum landing size regulations on fish size and reproductive maturity in the Canary Islands.
Analyzed 725 historical photographs from 1940-2022
Evaluated size-frequency distribution of recreational catches
Compared minimum landing sizes with lengths at sexual maturity for various species
Observed shift from single-species to multispecies fishing since 2000
Many species showed significant size reductions over time
Current minimum landing sizes are lower than maturity lengths for most species, promoting early harvests
Suggested transition to L95 for better alignment with reproductive biology to enhance fish community sustainability

Guerra-Marrero et al. (2026) studied this question.

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