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Figure 8. Draft key elements of an ecosystem-oriented fisheries management
approach for the Northeast United
States Continental Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) as a representative
example.
Definition(s) |
Ecosystem-oriented fishery management is “a strategy to regulate
human activity towards maintaining long-term
system sustainability (within the range of natural variability as we understand
it”, Fluharty, 2000) of the
Northeast Shelf Ecosystem, covering the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, Southern
New England, and the Mid-Atlantic
Bight and their associated estuaries and watersheds. Protecting or restoring
the function, structure, and species
composition of the ecosystem, recognizing that all components are interrelated,
and that safeguards the long-term
ecological sustainability, natural diversity and productivity of the ecosystem,
and considering the needs of people and
environmental values. Highlighting the positive correlation between economic
prosperity and environmental
well-being, it is a goal-driven approach to restoring and sustaining healthy
ecosystems and their functions and values
using the best science available. (adapted and modified from Haeuber (1996) from
select U.S. federal agency
definitions). Ecosystem-based management “is based on large areas that
are diverse ecologically, economically, and
socially, and complexly connected and interacting. It entails scientific, descriptive
components as well as normative
components” (Slocombe, 1998). Ecosystem management occurs over multiple
scales ranging in scope from a
focus on the local scale (local abundance, local disturbance) and immediate benefits
to broader geographic scales at
the immediate coast and long-term benefits. (Schramm & Hubert, 1996). |
| Objective |
The basic ecosystem consideration is a precautionary approach to extraction
of fish resources to provide and
ensure the intergenerational sustainability of ecosystem goods, services and
socioeconomic benefits by establishing
appropriate reference points and/or sustainability indicators for restoring and
maintaining the fish and fisheries
produced by this ecosystem based on the best scientific evidence available. |
| Goals |
One “goal of the ecosystem approach is to restore, enhance, and
protect ecosystem integrity. Ecosystem integrity
entails the alleviation of physical stresses and the restoration of a healthy
ecosystem structure and function. For
those who support the ecosystem approach to integrated marine resources management,
the goal is to
institutionalize the concept within elected government” (MacKenzie 1997).
- Maintain
ecosystem productivity and biodiversity consistent with multiple spatial
scales natural evolutionary and
ecological processes, including dynamic change and variability.
- Maintain
and restore habitats essential for fish and their prey, that is, “those
waters and substrate necessary to
fish for spawning, breeding, feeding or growth to maturity” (e.g.
see Fluharty, 2000).
- Maintain system sustainability and sustainable
yields of fisheries resources for human consumption including
halting overfishing, that is, “a rate or level of fishing mortality
that jeopardizes the capacity of a fishery to
produce the maximum sustainable yield on a continuing basis “(e.g.
see Fluharty, 2000).
- Maintain the concept that humans are integral
components of the ecosystem.
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| Guidelines |
- Integrate ecosystem-oriented management through interactive partnerships
among the states and regulatory
agencies, stakeholders, (public), regional and international organizations
(e.g. NAFO).
- Utilize peer-review ecological models as an aid in understanding
the structure,
function, and dynamics of the
Northeast Shelf ecosystem.
- Utilize best available science research and
monitoring to validate a “best
practices” ecosystem -oriented
approach, for sustainable use of fishery resources.
- Use precaution
when faced with uncertainties to minimize risk; management decisions
should err on the side
of resource conservation.
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| Assumptions |
- Ecosystem-oriented management is an adaptive process which requires
periodic evaluation preferably on an
annual basis for refining and incorporating updated scientific information
as it becomes available.
- Ecosystem-oriented management requires temporal
scales that transcend human generations.
- Fish has become one of the
most internationally traded food items, as some 37% (by volume) of
all fish for
human consumption is traded across borders (Sinclair and Valdimarsson,
2003).
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| Understanding |
- “The ecosystem is considered to be a unit of biological organization
made up of all of the organisms in a given
area interacting with the physical environment so that a flow of energy leads
to characteristic trophic
structure and material cycles within the system” (Odum, 1969).
- Science
policy management measures that are consistent with an ecosystem-oriented
strategy include
precautionary-conservative catch (allocation) limits, comprehensive monitoring
and enforcement, bycatch
controls including adaptable retention and utilization policies, gear restrictions,
closed season/closed
area/time marine protected areas (MPA’s), and additional ecosystem
considerations that are based
on scientific research and advice (Witherell, et al., 2000).
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| (Adapted and modified from Sinclair and Validimarsson, 2003;
Witherell, et al., 2000; Fluharty, 2000; Sherman and Duda, 1999a&b;
Witherell, 1999; Slocombe, 1998; MacKenzie, 1997; Haeuber, 1996; Schramm
and Hubert, 1996; Odum, 1969) |
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