There has been a growing awareness that fishing activity needs to be managed by an approach which considers the ecosystems within which the fisheries are located. An ecosystem-based management approach takes into account the interactions of fishing activity with the marine ecosystem and incorporates such considerations into fisheries management decisions. The aim is to allow the utilisation of fisheries while maintaining the natural structure, balance and functioning of marine ecosystems and important species. It also focuses on protecting habitats of importance to fisheries.
The fisheries management challenge can be conceptualised as consisting of a number of levels, which extend from simpler single species management, up to more complex and comprehensive multi-sector approaches:
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Level 1 - Single species management of targeted resources, with issues such as protected species, non-target species, and habitat factors incorporated into management decisions as important considerations
Level 2 - Multi-species aggregate and systems level approaches that bring in factors such as: trophic structure, carrying capacity, climate anomalies and regime shifts
Level 3 - Comprehensive multi-sector approach that captures all human values and activities (such as fishing, recreation, biodiversity, intrinsic value, minerals, oil and gas exploration)
Kina barren (Credit: Raewyn Peart)
The fisheries management system currently applied by the Ministry for Primary Industries is based on Level 1, being primarily single species focused. Applying a more comprehensive ecosystems approach requires an understanding of the ecosystems within which fishing is taking place, and the interactions between fishing and the affected ecosystems ─ knowledge which is gradually being developed. An ecosystems-based approach to fisheries management could be expected to take into account the issues identified in the table below.
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Issue
Best Practice Consideration
Targeted Fish Stock
Is the size of the exploited population such that it retains its productivity, provides margins of safety for error and uncertainty, and retains its capacity for yields over the long term?
If the fish stock is depleted, is it able to recover, and if so are management measures in place to enable its recovery within a reasonable time frame?
Is fishing conducted in a manner to ensure that the age or genetic structure, or sex composition, of the stock is not changed to a degree that impairs reproductive capability?
Bycatch Species
Are any threatened or endangered species affected by the fishery such as sea lions, Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins and seabirds? If so, are effective measures in place to ensure that any negative effects on populations are mitigated?
Area any other protected species affected by the fishery such as seals, dolphins, whales or seabirds? If so, are effective measures in place to ensure that the effects are minimised?
Is there any significant bycatch of untargeted species including juveniles? If so, are effective measures in place to reduce this?
Does management ensure recovery of depleted populations?
Are fisheries impacts on bycatch species reversible over a reasonable time period (20-30 years)?
Associated or Dependent Species
Is the fishery depleting food sources important to other species such as seabirds or marine mammals and is this having a detrimental effect on these populations?
Does management ensure recovery of depleted populations?
Are fisheries impacts on associated and dependent species reversible over a reasonable time period (20-30 years)?
Biodiversity
Is the fishing activity threatening marine biological diversity at the genetic, species or population levels?
Is the fishing activity enabling the natural functional relationships among species to be retained? Is it leading to trophic cascades or ecosystem state changes?
Is the natural structure and function of the marine ecosystem being maintained, including its biodiversity and productivity?
Habitats/Ecosystem Approach
Are habitats of particular significance for fisheries management well-managed or protected, including addressing land-based impacts?
Are changes to the marine habitats caused by fishing activity reversible over a reasonable time period (20 -30 years)?
Are sufficient representative and unique benthic habitats protected from trawling and dredging activity, including vulnerable marine ecosystems?
Is fishing activity reducing the resilience of marine ecosystems to climate change related impacts? If so, are effective measures in place to reduce these impacts?
Information and Uncertainty
Has the decision been based on the best available information and has the adequacy and reliability of the information been assessed? (Refer to Fisheries Act 1996 Section 10 for more information on operational guidance)
Has a recent assessment of the biological status of the fish stock and impacts of the fishery been conducted?
Is sufficient research being undertaken into the environmental impacts of the fisheries to enable informed management decisions to be made?
Is sufficient research being undertaken to understand the important trophic linkages between the fish stock and other marine species?
Where information is inadequate, has a precautionary approach been adopted?
Has uncertainty in the available information not prevented action being taken when the sustainability of the fisheries resource or the health of the aquatic environment is at risk?
Information and Uncertainty
Has the decision been based on the best available information and has the adequacy and reliability of the information been assessed? (Refer to Fisheries Act 1996 Section 10 for more information on operational guidance)
Has a recent assessment of the biological status of the fish stock and impacts of the fishery been conducted?
Is sufficient research being undertaken into the environmental impacts of the fisheries to enable informed management decisions to be made?
Is sufficient research being undertaken to understand the important trophic linkages between the fish stock and other marine species?
Where information is inadequate, has a precautionary approach been adopted?
Has uncertainty in the available information not prevented action being taken when the sustainability of the fisheries resource or the health of the aquatic environment is at risk?
Monitoring and Enforcement
Is adequate monitoring being undertaken?
Is there adequate enforcement of fisheries regulations?
Management
Have clear management goals been established?
Have management plans been developed to ensure progress towards those goals?
Do these management plans include clear targets and timelines for progress?
As an industry science provider Trident Systems are forging important links between science and the fishing industry. Trident is supporting fishing vessel crews with scientific protocol training. This is a partnership programme, with funding from a number of partners and co-funding from Seafood Innovations Limited. Working with a number of science providers, the company’s research and development focus covers three key areas:
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Efficient sampling of inshore stocks, especially finfish fisheries
Realising greater value from fisheries data
Evaluating management procedures for lower information stocks
A valuable component of Trident’s work, is the application of any scientific information gathered directly to processing plants and fishing vessels, in order to improve fisheries practices.
Sourced and adapted from the Australian Department of the Environment and Water Resources, 2007; Marine Stewardship Council, 2002; and Ward et al, 2002)
Adapted from Holliday M C and A B Gautam (Eds.), 2005
