An ecosystem-based approach to marine fisheries management (original) (raw)

Large-scale, multiple-use management is an ideal vehicle to implement and develop a holistic, integrated, ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management. It is now widely recognised that fisheries management must comprise a subset or component of a broader management of the whole ecosystem. Because of the "connected" nature of the marine environment, marine ecosystem management must address both system-oriented strategies, toprevent harm from pollution and overuse, and site-based strategies to protect habitats or to allocate and separate conflicting use. Large-scale, multipleuse managed areas, such as marine protected areas (MPAs), provide an ideal tool for implementing such an ecosystem approach to fisheries management. The role of the 'fisheries manager' should be to provide input into: (i) the broad strategic approach to ecologically sustainable management, which will involve the use of environments and natural resourceson aregionalscale which matches the scale of marine ecosystems, and(ii) tactical habitat management, which will address a range of specific objectives such as biodiversity preservation, research, education and rccreation, in addition to fisheries management. The goal of the 'fisheries manager' should be to ensure the sustainableutilization of species and ecosystems. Inevitably, this will be linked with the maintenance of essential ecological processes and life-support systems, and also, the establishment of research and monitoring programs to monitor the effectiveness of management strategies. The challenge for 'fisheries managers' will be to redefine and broaden their role as 'habitat managers' within a new, integrated, ecosystem approach to management.