Decision Frameworks and Reconciling Fisheries to Conservation

It is now well understood that the vast majority of fish populations have been exploited to or beyond their maximum potential, while global demand for products remains high and is increasing. This scenario necessitates an urgent reconciliation of fisheries and conservation concerns. Ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) has been widely recommended over the past decade as a remedy to restore degraded fisheries. While taking immediate steps such as reducing fishing capacity or requiring better adherence to scientific advice could help bring some fish stocks to more sustainable levels, implementing EBFM principles such as habitat protection, recognition of trophic dependencies, and incorporating scientific uncertainty is essential for moving forward. Here we use small pelagic, or forage fish, species to demonstrate why an EBFM approach is needed and how it can be implemented. Forage fish species provide critical ecosystem services and are often the main prey for many fish, mammal, and seabird species in marine food webs. Their populations also fluctuate widely according to environmental conditions; often on long time scales. At the same time, small pelagic fish are the main source for fish meal and oil products that are used for animal and aquaculture feed and many other products. The management of forage fish species presents a complex set of factors that require reconciling fisheries with conservation and taking a more holistic ecosystem based perspective on fisheries management. A science-based, EBFM approach will place the unique ecological role of forage species at the center of the resource utilization debate and provide a better balance between fisheries and conservation needs.