A Framework for Incorporating Species, Fleet, Habitat, and Climate Interactions into Fishery Management

Sarah K Gaichas,Richard J Seagraves,Vincent G Guida,Jonathan A Hare,Michael J Wilberg,Jessica M Coakley,Paul J Rago,Geret S Depiper

doi:10.3389/fmars.2016.00105

Abstract

Marine ecosystems are characterized by many complex interactions. Fisheries managers face the challenge of maintaining or restoring sustainability for individual living resources which are affected by both ecological and economic interactions with other species, through processes like predation and fishing fleet interactions. These species interactions are further complicated by interactions with habitats that are changing due to both human activities and climate change. Often, fishery management systems designed to promote sustainability of individual resources have few tools or processes that also address interactions between species, fleets, habitat, and climate. Here, we review existing and potential fishery assessment and management information and tools, and we develop a potential framework for addressing interactions in management at the request of the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. The structured framework can be used to first prioritize interactions, second specify key questions regarding high priority interactions, and third tailor appropriate analyses to address them. The primary tools for the initial steps in the framework are risk assessment and Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE). Finally, implemented management would be evaluated to ensure that objectives are being met, or to adjust measures as conditions change. In the final section, we outline an example to illustrate how a structured decision making process within the framework could work.

Highlights

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) manages fishery resources in the US Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ; out to 200 nmi from shore) from North Carolina to New York (Figure 1)
In the Section Information and Tools Available to Address Interactions in Fishery Management, we explain the importance of addressing species, climate, habitat, and fleet interactions, and review information and analytical tools currently available to address these interactions for fishery managers in the Mid-Atlantic region
In the Section A Potential Framework for Addressing Interactions, we propose a potential framework for the Council to address these interactions in management, which would be tailored to specific questions to ensure the best management outcomes for the Council

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) manages fishery resources in the US Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ; out to 200 nmi from shore) from North Carolina to New York (Figure 1). The three primary tools outlined in Sections Comprehensive Tools: Conceptual Models to Comprehensive Tools: Management Strategy Evaluation below, and suggested for addressing species, fleet, climate, and habitat interactions in the Northeast US Mid-Atlantic region are all components of this IEA framework. Comprehensive Tools: Conceptual Models “Conceptual models” developed for the California Current IEA are being adapted for the Northeast US shelf, and could be a useful tool for Fishery Management Councils to address species and fleet interactions. The California Current IEA project has used these conceptual models to improve communications with regional fishery management councils regarding key linkages between managed species and the environment, in groundfish stock assessment ecosystem considerations sections, and on their webpages for navigation by users to see linked information on status, trend, indicators, etc. Investment in multiple simulation models with adequate alternative structures to evaluate the interactions of interest (species, habitat, climate and fleet) is a pre-requisite for effective MSE

A POTENTIAL FRAMEWORK FOR

CONCLUSIONS