Fisheries management science: the framework to link biological, economic, and social objectives in fisheries management

Abstract

in future will require that biological assessments be combined appropriately with operational, social, and economic considerations toward effective of complex systems. This is not currently being done in because of: (i) lack of a conceptual and organizational framework for integrated and participatory decision making, and (ii) lack of more appropriate methodologies for dealing with diverse sources of information, interdisciplinary objectives, and inherent uncertainty of these systems. An integration of traditional fisheries with other aspects of fisheries and field of management in a new discipline of Fisheries Management Science is proposed. FMS is defined as the rigorous application of scientific method of problem solving in development of strategic alternatives and their evaluation on basis of objectives that integrate biological, economic, social, and operational factors into decision making. Management science or operational research provides guidance in methodologies for complex decision making and problem resolution. A multidisciplinary decision framework is proposed involving following key steps: (1) specification of quantifiable objectives and constraints; (2) modelling of expected multicriteria performance of a range of proposed decisions; (3) risk assessment through descriptions of expected variability in performance measures; (4) risk through analytical evaluation of risk and ranking of alternate solutions; and (5) continuous monitoring and improvement of past decisions including deviations from expected performance and corresponding adjustment of future alternatives toward achieving strategic objectives.