Ecosystem-based fisheries management
The traditional fisheries management tools were designed for single-species fisheries and may not be effective for multi-species fisheries that have diverse commercial and non-commercial species. Bycatch, the incidental capture of non-target species, is another issue faced by fisheries.
Ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) is a broader approach that considers the entire ecosystem and aims to maintain biodiversity and sustainability. EBFM can take many forms, including joint catch quotas for multiple species, marine protected areas, and mitigation measures to reduce bycatch. Successful examples of sustainable fisheries management can be seen in North America and Southeast Asia. To achieve sustainable seafood supplies, it is necessary to manage fisheries correctly by considering all species and their environment.
Review questions:
- What is ecosystem-based fisheries management, and why is it important?
- Why is managing multi-species fisheries different from managing single-species fisheries?
- What are the challenges associated with bycatch, and how can they be addressed?
SDG 14: Global Action for Marine Conservation
SDG 14: Global Action for Marine Conservation
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