Fisheries Management Effectiveness
Fisheries management involves a system of appropriate,
scientifically-based objectives and rules for management. Strategies and tools
to implement these rules must also exist, as well as a system for enforcing the
rules and monitoring results. By implementing a successful fisheries management
system, social and economic benefits can be increased while maintaining
sustainable yields and protecting/securing fishery resources.
The management effectiveness of the world’s marine fisheries, both large and small-scale, is important to food provision and livelihoods that depend upon fish and seafood.
For large-scale fisheries, management is typically the responsibility of federal, state or town governments. For small-scale fisheries, management may be accomplished through collaboration at more local levels, including communities, tribes or even families, in conjunction with appropriate government entities.
The management effectiveness of the world’s marine fisheries, both large and small-scale, is important to food provision and livelihoods that depend upon fish and seafood.
For large-scale fisheries, management is typically the responsibility of federal, state or town governments. For small-scale fisheries, management may be accomplished through collaboration at more local levels, including communities, tribes or even families, in conjunction with appropriate government entities.
Functions, Responsibilities and Relationships for a Fisheries Management System
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Which Goals Does This Affect?
How Was It Measured?
Large-scale Fisheries
Mora et al. (2009) assessed the current effectiveness of fisheries management regimes for Scientific Robustness, Policy Transparency, Implementation Capacity, Subsidies, Fishing Effort, and Foreign Fishing. All countries with coastal areas were assessed through a combination of surveys, empirical data and enquiries to fisheries experts. For each reporting region in the Ocean Health Index, Mora et al.’s scores for each category were rescaled to 0 and 1, scaling the maximum possible value for each category as 1. For each country or reporting region, scores for all 6 categories were averaged to produce an overall score that serves as its overall Fisheries Management Effectiveness score.
Small-scale Fisheries
To measure management effectiveness for artisanal fisheries, data were used from Mora et al. (2009) based upon surveys that represent the opportunity for artisanal and recreational fishing in each country based on the quality of management of the small-scale fishing sector. Scores reported by Mora et al. (2009) for small-scale fisheries management for each country range from 0 to 100, with higher scores representing better management of the artisanal and recreational fishing sectors. These values were rescaled (using a minimum value of 0 and maximum value of 100) to give each country a score between 0 and 1 for each reporting region.
Mora et al. (2009) assessed the current effectiveness of fisheries management regimes for Scientific Robustness, Policy Transparency, Implementation Capacity, Subsidies, Fishing Effort, and Foreign Fishing. All countries with coastal areas were assessed through a combination of surveys, empirical data and enquiries to fisheries experts. For each reporting region in the Ocean Health Index, Mora et al.’s scores for each category were rescaled to 0 and 1, scaling the maximum possible value for each category as 1. For each country or reporting region, scores for all 6 categories were averaged to produce an overall score that serves as its overall Fisheries Management Effectiveness score.
Small-scale Fisheries
To measure management effectiveness for artisanal fisheries, data were used from Mora et al. (2009) based upon surveys that represent the opportunity for artisanal and recreational fishing in each country based on the quality of management of the small-scale fishing sector. Scores reported by Mora et al. (2009) for small-scale fisheries management for each country range from 0 to 100, with higher scores representing better management of the artisanal and recreational fishing sectors. These values were rescaled (using a minimum value of 0 and maximum value of 100) to give each country a score between 0 and 1 for each reporting region.
What Are The Impacts?
ECOLOGICAL IMPACT
Fishing pressure affects
ocean ecology, species, and habitats through overfishing, bycatch of non-target
species, and the use of fishing gear or techniques that damage or destroy
habitats. Effective fisheries management can minimize negative ecological
issues, including cascade effects within an ecosystem that can be caused by
unsustainable fishing practices.
HUMAN HEALTH IMPACT
The
ability of the ocean to continue to meet the increasing demand for wild-caught
seafood will be compromised if fisheries management does not reduce excessive
fishing pressure. Effective fisheries management can help to ensure that the
ocean will provide an adequate and reliable supply of fish and seafood in the
future.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
Effective
fisheries management can improve the likelihood for sustainable fisheries and
ensure fair and equitable access and allocation of fishery resources and
profits.
Among the greatest challenges to effective fisheries management is illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU). IUU is particularly significant in impoverished countries because there may not be adequate resources to prevent it from depriving legitimate fisheries of substantial resources and revenue.
Among the greatest challenges to effective fisheries management is illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU). IUU is particularly significant in impoverished countries because there may not be adequate resources to prevent it from depriving legitimate fisheries of substantial resources and revenue.
What Has Been Done?
Community-based Co-management Agreement is a Success in Chile
The loco snail (Concholepas concholipas) is the most economically important
shellfish in Chile. Until the late 1980s, the fishery was open access, so fishers
had no incentives to cooperate and local resources were being overexploited. In
1988, fishers, scientists and government agencies set up a co-management agreement
that covered 4-km of seashore and allowed only local fishers to extract loco.
This agreement significantly improved the welfare of the local community and
two decades later, more than 700 areas are now co-managed along 4,000 km of the
Chilean coast, involving more than 20,000 artisanal fishers and resulting in
one of the most successful abalone fisheries in the world.
(Gutiérrez et al. 2011).
(Gutiérrez et al. 2011).
Catch Share Programs Steadily Gaining Popularity Worldwide
‘Catch
share’ fisheries management systems give individuals
or groups secure ‘quota-based’ rights to harvest a specified amount of a
fishery's total catch or exclusive ‘space-based’ rights to fish in a particular
area. Catch share systems can potentially prevent or reverse declines in fish
stocks and improve overall fisheries sustainability. Approximately 20% of coastal and developing
countries reviewed recently (Jardine and Sanchirico 2012) have
implemented a catch share program. Those that did had better governance
rankings, stronger economies, and more valuable fishery export industries, but
fewer people employed in fisheries.
Local artisanal fishermen unloading their catch from pirogues on the shores of SenegalLinda Schonknecht/Marine Photobank
Get More Information
Smithsonian: Managing Marine Fisheries
This educational, interactive, multimedia
site provides insight and data regarding fishery management choices.
The World Bank: Global Program on Fisheries (PROFISH)
PROFISH
promotes good governance of resources and seeks to increase the contribution of fisheries and
aquaculture to sustainable economic growth, better nutrition, economic
opportunities for women, and poverty reduction.
References
PHOTO(S): © Keith A. Ellenbogen