The role of technical measures in the recovery of the UK sea bass (Dicentrarchuslabrax) fishery 1980-2002

In the early 1980s, catch rates of sea bass in the inshore fisheries around English and Welsh coasts were decreasing rapidly, and growth-overfishing-allied to erratic recruitment-was threatening the sustainability of the stock and its fishery. A yield-per-recruit analysis, based on regional exploitation patterns, demonstrated that an increase in the age at first capture would improve long-term yields and boost recruitment to the spawning stock. A public discussion paper was widely distributed, explaining the management objective, to increase the size at first capture to a minimum of 38 cm total length, its scientific rationale and means of achievement. Thirteen regional consultation meetings were held with stakeholders to judge the practicality and likely impact of introducing appropriate technical measures. We describe the introduction of a package of technical measures aimed at protecting sea bass <36 cm and evaluate the effectiveness of a national minimum landing size, complementary mesh size regulations for enmeshing nets (both later adopted internationally by the EU), and seasonal closures of 34 inshore nursery areas in England and Wales where juvenile sea bass were considered to be particularly vulnerable to exploitation. We discuss the acceptability of these technical measures to stakeholders and evaluate this conservation package after its introduction, demonstrating that it has improved the exploitation pattern in the sea bass fisheries and provided both biological and economic benefits. We warn, however, that these measures may not by themselves be sufficient to achieve developing management objectives for the sea bass fishery.