<![CDATA[Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are recognized as an important strategy for conserving coral reef ecosystems and sustaining marine fisheries resources. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of MPAs in enhancing the abundance, biomass, and diversity of reef fish within tropical coral reef ecosystems. A quantitative comparative approach was employed by comparing reef fish communities inside and outside protected areas. Data were collected using the Underwater Visual Census (UVC) method for reef fish assessment and the Line Intercept Transect (LIT) method for coral habitat evaluation. The results revealed that reef fish abundance, biomass, and species diversity were significantly higher within MPAs than in non-protected areas. Furthermore, higher live coral cover within protected zones contributed positively to the recovery and sustainability of reef fish populations. Evidence of a spillover effect was also observed, providing ecological and economic benefits to fisheries in adjacent areas. These findings demonstrate that MPAs are effective tools for restoring reef fish populations and maintaining the ecological integrity of tropical coral reef ecosystems.]]>
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