Publication Abstract

From fish to fisheries: the changing focus of management advice

From fish to fisheries: the changing focus of management advice

S. A. Reeves*, P. Marchal , S. Mardle , S. Pascoe, R. Prellezo , O. Thébaud  & M. Travers

The scientific basis of fisheries management advice has traditionally focused on the individual fish stock as the unit to be managed. However, the management advice applies to the vessels fishing those stocks, rather than to the stocks themselves. Where previously annual total allowable catches (TACs) were the primary management measure for stocks in European waters, other measures, particularly restrictions on fishing effort, are now becoming similarly important. The advisory system has not kept pace with these changes; the existing stock assessments provide a means of giving advice on annual TACs, but not yet on fishing effort. Here, we describe the recent history of the North Sea cod stock and how this has sparked interest in the development of approaches for using information on the activity of fishers in management advice, and review the existing research that could inform the development of such approaches. Finally, we discuss the possible development and application of such approaches against the background of the changing context for fisheries management advice.

Reference:

S. A. Reeves*, P. Marchal , S. Mardle , S. Pascoe, R. Prellezo , O. Thébaud  & M. Travers (2008) From fish to fisheries: the changing focus of management advice. In: Payne A, Cotter J, Potter T (eds) Advances in Fisheries Science 50 years on from Beverton and Holt. Blackwell Publishing, pp 135-154

S. A. Reeves*, P. Marchal , S. Mardle , S. Pascoe, R. Prellezo , O. Thébaud & M. Travers

In: Payne A, Cotter J, Potter T (eds) Advances in Fisheries Science 50 years on from Beverton and Holt. Blackwell Publishing, pp 135-154