Abstract
Fish assemblages are vital for the functioning of Mediterranean coastal ecosystems, yet they have long been overexploited by recreational and professional fishing. In response to this overexploitation, No-take Zones (NTZs) have been applied, resulting in significant conservation benefits. This study, conducted by citizen scientists and members of the scientific community in the north-western (NW) Mediterranean Sea, investigated spatial trends in fish assemblages targeted by small scale and recreational fisheries using the Fish Assemblage Survey Technique (FAST). A total of 1356 fifteen-minute replicate counts, corresponding to 452 hours in the water over a six-year period (2018 – 2023) were analyzed. Results indicated that the ecological status of fish assemblages were spatially dependent, where poor fish assemblage health was observed at dive sites situated in the Lérins Islands, highlighting an area of conservation priority. NTZs were associated with a higher presence of small (p