Skip to main content
WCS
Menu
Library
Library Catalog
eJournals & eBooks
WCS Research
Archives
Research Use
Finding Aids
Digital Collections
WCS History
WCS Research
Research Publications
Science Data
Services for WCS Researchers
Archives Shop
Bronx Zoo
Department of Tropical Research
Browse By Product
About Us
FAQs
Intern or Volunteer
Staff
Donate
Search WCS.org
Search
search
Popular Search Terms
WCS History
Library and Archives
Library and Archives Menu
Library
Archives
WCS Research
Archives Shop
About Us
Donate
en
fr
Title
Identifying management actions that promote sustainable fisheries
Author(s)
Melnychuk, Michael C.;Kurota, Hiroyuki;Mace, Pamela M.;Pons, Maite;Minto, Cóilín;Osio, Giacomo Chato;Jensen, Olaf P.;de Moor, Carryn L.;Parma, Ana M.;Richard Little, L.;Hively, Daniel;Ashbrook, Charmane E.;Baker, Nicole;Amoroso, Ricardo O.;Branch, Trevor A.;Anderson, Christopher M.;Szuwalski, Cody S.;Baum, Julia K.;McClanahan, Tim R.;Ye, Yimin;Ligas, Alessandro;Bensbai, Jilali;Thompson, Grant G.;DeVore, John;Magnusson, Arni;Bogstad, Bjarte;Wort, Edward;Rice, Jake;Hilborn, Ray
Published
2021
Publisher
Nature Sustainability
Published Version DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-020-00668-1
Abstract
Which management actions work best to prevent or halt overfishing and to rebuild depleted populations? A comprehensive evaluation of multiple, co-occurring management actions on the sustainability status of marine populations has been lacking. Here we compiled detailed management histories for 288 assessed fisheries from around the world (accounting for 45% of those with formal stock assessments) and used hierarchical time-series analyses to estimate effects of different management interventions on trends in stock status. Rebuilding plans, applied less commonly than other management measures (implemented at some point historically for 43% of stocks), rapidly lowered fishing pressure towards target levels and emerged as the most important factor enabling overfished populations to recover. Additionally, the ratification of international fishing agreements, and harvest control rules specifying how catch limits should vary with population biomass, helped to reduce overfishing and rebuild biomass. Notably, we found that benefits of management actions are cumulative—as more are implemented, stock status improves and predicted long-term catches increase. Thus, a broad suite of management measures at local, national and international levels appears to be key to sustaining fish populations and food production.
Keywords
Ecological modelling; Ecosystem services; Population dynamics
Access Full Text
A full-text copy of this article may be available. Please email the
WCS Library
to request.
Back
PUB25587