While some people worry that fish populations are being exploited at a dangerous pace, others are rejoicing at the small successes that are occurring. In Australia, for example, the red throat emperor has made a spectacular comeback in recent years. Once heavily overfished, the fish seem to have rebounded. Why?

The general consensus is that reef closures, high winds, and high fuel prices have all kept fisherman away, giving time for this species to revive. Moreover, it appears that the fish mature early and hide in deep water (or some other fisherman-unfriendly location) until they're much older, giving them ample time to mature and reproduce. Finally, it also helps that other fish in the area fetch a higher market price, and fishermen have concentrated on finding them.

[Via Dive News]