As far as whether fishing is reducing the fish population along the coast, I don't have the data so can't say one way or the other. But that long term study with MPAs isn't going to tell us much either, because there's too much other stuff going on that's not fishing related. Have you guys seen the articles about the kelp disappearing? Has the kelp been disappearing down by San Diego? Up here in Long Beach the kelp along the federal breakwall is just about gone. It used to be 30 yards thick and solid. . Now there's just a few patches. The calico bass bite has been pretty poor lately too. Plus I've noticed a steady drop off in quantity and size near the breakwall in the last three years.
Here's one of the many articles on the kelp disappearing. 93% gone. That seems like a really big deal.
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/vital-calif...arming-1566542