Research Document - 1999/123
Scientific Concepts for Ecosystem-based Management of Marine Invertebrates on Canada's Pacific Coast.
By R.I. Perry
Abstract
Management to achieve sustainable marine fisheries requires consideration of habitat and multi-species interactions in addition to the present single-species population dynamics approaches. Such "ecosystem" approaches to fisheries management are now common recommendations from advisory bodies, and are becoming part of formal legislation. From a scientific basis, however, it is not clear how to implement or advise upon such ecosystem-based approaches. This paper discusses the scientific concepts and issues necessary to include ecosystem considerations into the management of Canada's Pacific marine invertebrate fisheries resources. The critical concepts are to define the goals for "ecosystem management"; to define the ecosystem (time and space scales); to recognise large uncertainties; to identify appropriate "control levers"; and to go slow (incrementally) but start now. Approaches to applying these concepts are to explicitly include ecosystem thinking in present assessments; to develop indices of ecosystem status; to reduce destructive fishing practices; to provide an "allocation" for predators; to establish reserve or experimental areas; and to develop models to help focus research. A central point is that "ecosystem management" can not mean the management of ecosystems; rather it means the management of human activities with marine ecosystems.
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