Publication Abstract

Achieving Sustainable Use of Renewable Resources

A.A. Rosenberg, M.J. Fogarty, M.P. Sissenwine, J.R. Beddington and J.G. Shepherd

Sustainable use is a widely accepted goal for renewable resource management. It "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" (1). However, natural variability, scientific uncertainty, and conflicting objectives (or values) can cause difficulties in achieving sustainable resource use. In a recent Policy Forum article, Ludwig et al. (2) argued that claims of sustainability should not be trusted and that populations are inevitably overexploited (often irreversibly), in part because scientific consensus on resource status cannot be attained. We maintain that the history of fisheries management provides both positive examples of sustainable resource use and lessons for future improvements. Our conclusions have the potential for broader application to other renewable resources. Specifically, we argue that (i) there is a sound theoretical and empirical basis for sustainable use, (ii) overexploitation is not inevitable or necessarily irreversible nor is it generally the result of inadequate scientific advice, and (iii) the tradition of open-access management systems coupled with risk-prone management decisions under uncertainty are the principal obstacles to achieving sustainability. We conclude that sustainable use of renewable resources can be attained.

Reference:

A.A. Rosenberg, M.J. Fogarty, M.P. Sissenwine, J.R. Beddington and J.G. Shepherd, 1993. Achieving Sustainable Use of Renewable Resources. Science, 262: 828-829.