Future directions in ecosystem based fisheries management: A personal perspective

This paper provides a personal perspective on the future of ecosystem based fisheries management (EBFM). I begin with the question, “if we did single species management well, would EBFM be necessary.” The answer to this is yes, because pure single-species management does not consider impacts on non-target species, trophic interactions among species, and habitat-destroying fishing practices. Pure single-species management conflicts with a range of legislation designed to protect non-target species and habitats within the U.S. and a number of other countries. The most important elements of EBFM are keeping fishing mortality rates low enough to prevent ecosystem-wide overfishing, reducing or eliminating by-catch and avoiding habitat-destroying fishing methods. There is a second phase of EBFM I call “extended EBFM” that consists of considering trophic interactions and area-based management. While there are now models of the trophic interactions for most highly managed ecosystems, and there are area-based management efforts underway in many places, I am not convinced that we are really ready, scientifically and administratively, to apply these forms of EBFM, because they are expensive and require complex trade-offs that are often ill-defined.

Research highlights▶ Impacts on non-target species, trophic structure and habitat the first step in EBFM. ▶ These problems are relatively easily solved and are being implemented. ▶ Consideration of trophic interactions and area-based management is the next step. ▶ This level of EBFM is much more expensive and less likely to be implemented.