Title: Redfish (Sebastes marinus) in marine protected areas west of Iceland

Redfish (Sebastes marinus) is one of the most important fish species in Icelandic fishing grounds and has been highly exploited. In recent years the number of redfish caught has decreased as a consequence of decreasing stock size. A Marine Protected Area (MPA) was established in 1994 to protect juvenile redfish. This project focuses on this area west of Iceland. The data collected in this report is from 1985-2002. After the MPA was established, the mean length of redfish has increased by about 1-2 cm. From the three first years to the three last years of the period the number of species in the MPA has increased by three. Biodiversity has increased after the MPA was established and the ecosystem seems to have returned to the way it was in 1985-1986.