Scientific Approach
The first way to implement a good policy for a fishery is to have strong scientific information behind the plan. So far many countries have rigorous methods with highly peer reviewed data to determine the state of a stock. But there are further issues that need to be taken into account. Much of the current analysis does sampling by averaging over large areas. This does not allow for information about spatially changes from movement during spawning, feeding, temperature, and other preferences for both fish and fisherman. A current research group has been using an automaton grid-based computer program to trace some of these relationships. An example of what this can look like is shown below:
Figure Source: Moustakas, A., Silvert, W., & Dimitromanolakis, A. (2006).
A spatially explicit learning model of migratory fish and fishers for
evaluating closed areas. Ecological Modelling, 192(1-2), 245-258.
Incorporating Genetic Policies
Many current policies have no included genetic factors so that there is no an imbalance in the health of the overall stock. A good way to address genetic diversity is by having marine reserves. Keeping stock that are not affected by catch size influences and are allowed to interact naturally with their environment will be able to keep healthy gene flow. These reserves should be a great way to keep fisheries healthy without necessarily reducing the amount of catch if done properly. Additionally, if it keeps fisheries from collapsing, it will ultimately be a key way to allow for sustained income and food from the fishing industry.
Furthermore, policies requiring a minimum catch size needs to be redesigned. Instead, it might be a good idea to have maximum catch sizes. If this was implemented genetic factors that allowed for accelerated growth would move quickly through the window of catch size and keep large genetically healthy individuals in the population. These large fish would provide ecosystem services keep fish sizes from decreasing.
Subsidies
Though this policies appear well intentioned they are much more like putting a band-aid on a wound than actually healing or prevention of the issue. I would not recommend this as a sustainable strategy for fishery management. Though subsidies might be necessary to make the transition from a fishery that has little to no management in place to a more comprehensive management strategy, they are not an answer. They tend to bring up the least efficient vessels leaving the rest of the vessels fishing. Additionally buyback policies leave intact the economic incentives that resulted in overcapacity, which only appear higher when the buyback are implemented. This might be understood by seeing how the profits that were more dispersed over a wider base are then narrowed towards fewer ships, making the profitability of the fishery appear even better.
Allowable Catch Policies
In just comparing the policies in the United States from coast to coast there is a clear difference. Where the western fisheries have adopted TAC policies, the eastern ones use number of days or less precise constraints. But recovery of overfished stocks has been higher in the Pacific (4 out of 9) compared to the New England (2 out of 18). There is evidence that the stronger, more precise management policies can allow for a revival of fisheries. Though the types of policies are not mentioned below, this figure helps give a sense of the amount over exploited fisheries still in the U.S.
Other Suggestions
Another method that would be good to use is real time closures in fisheries. Currently, closures are based on anticipated dates when stocks will be overfished or timing of spawning. However, as the world becomes more technologically connected it will be possible to provide feedback in real time by measurements taken. This level of management was not possible before but it is becoming much more reasonable now. This method idea is currently being considered in the EU.
Also a common mistake is that quotas are set to an average for a specific area. Because multiple species occupy a location, the quota needs to be set the most vulnerable stock. Unless really strong measurements are taken to reduce by-catch this is often a better method than allowing for a general average that is too high for certain species.
For those small fishing communities that rely upon fishing for their economy they should be given exclusive rights to a region nearby. When stocks are managed by only this community, they should take a personal interest in maintaining the viability of the stock. This might only be possible if these fishing communities are willing to work side-by-side with scientists to make sustainable decisions.
Visualizing Fishing Management
Graphic Created By Allison Snyder using Microsoft Powerpoint
Overall it is important to remember that recovery of fisheries is not just an ideal for the over-eager conservationist. This is an issue that impacts the lives of people all over the world. Fish are a huge part of many people's diet and are an extremely good source of important nutrients. The decline in fish catches strongly impacts the availability of fish and the food on people's plates. Furthermore, the fishermen and their families depend on the income from these fisheries. Many fishing communities are isolated, without other jobs in which to turn. The success, recovery, and sustainable management of these fisheries can help these communities maintain a stable income for their families. It is in the interest of all to find a way to keep our fisheries healthy!
