Weaknesses in stock assessment modelling and management practices affect fisheries sustainability

Edgar, GJ; Ward, TJ; Stuart-Smith, RD

Weaknesses in stock assessment modelling and management practices affect fisheries sustainability

Edgar, GJ Ward, TJ Stuart-Smith, RD

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Publisher:: Wiley
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 2019, 29, (11), pp. 2010-2016
Issue Date:: 2019-11-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Edgar, GJ
dc.contributor.author	Ward, TJ
dc.contributor.author	Stuart-Smith, RD
dc.date.accessioned	2020-05-19T22:46:14Z
dc.date.available	2020-05-19T22:46:14Z
dc.date.issued	2019-11-01
dc.identifier.citation	Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 2019, 29, (11), pp. 2010-2016
dc.identifier.issn	1052-7613
dc.identifier.issn	1099-0755
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/140826
dc.description.abstract	© 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. We respond to criticism of our earlier paper where we report Australia-wide declines in fisheries catches that parallel the declining trends in fish populations observed underwater, and we highlight concerns about the low levels of precaution applied when regulating fisheries catches using the avoidance of recruitment failure approach. Most fished species worldwide lack the data needed for accurate stock status assessments, and consequently exploitation of these species should be managed with high precaution. For the relatively few species and stocks with individually modelled assessments, the errors associated with model output are extremely large as a result of the multiplicity of confounding factors (including effects of changing climate, technological advances that increase catch efficiency, fisher behaviour, interactions with other species, and changes in habitat quality), and the compounding of error introduced by subjective assumptions in multiple parameter estimates. The magnitude of this assessment uncertainty appears to be rarely recognized and incorporated into management decisions. Given the difficulties in accurately predicting and managing fishing impacts, including species interactions across space and time, a well-designed set of no-take marine reserves is critically needed. Although not a universal panacea, an effective global network of marine reserves arguably represents the most efficient and publicly acceptable next step – in addition to greenhouse gas reduction – towards solving the unfolding global dilemma confronting fish populations and ocean ecosystems.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Wiley
dc.relation.ispartof	Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1002/aqc.3161
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	05 Environmental Sciences, 06 Biological Sciences, 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Marine Biology & Hydrobiology
dc.title	Weaknesses in stock assessment modelling and management practices affect fisheries sustainability
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	29
utslib.for	05 Environmental Sciences
utslib.for	06 Biological Sciences
utslib.for	07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Life Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2020-05-19T22:46:08Z
pubs.issue	11
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	29
utslib.start-page	2010
utslib.citation.issue	11

Abstract:

© 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. We respond to criticism of our earlier paper where we report Australia-wide declines in fisheries catches that parallel the declining trends in fish populations observed underwater, and we highlight concerns about the low levels of precaution applied when regulating fisheries catches using the avoidance of recruitment failure approach. Most fished species worldwide lack the data needed for accurate stock status assessments, and consequently exploitation of these species should be managed with high precaution. For the relatively few species and stocks with individually modelled assessments, the errors associated with model output are extremely large as a result of the multiplicity of confounding factors (including effects of changing climate, technological advances that increase catch efficiency, fisher behaviour, interactions with other species, and changes in habitat quality), and the compounding of error introduced by subjective assumptions in multiple parameter estimates. The magnitude of this assessment uncertainty appears to be rarely recognized and incorporated into management decisions. Given the difficulties in accurately predicting and managing fishing impacts, including species interactions across space and time, a well-designed set of no-take marine reserves is critically needed. Although not a universal panacea, an effective global network of marine reserves arguably represents the most efficient and publicly acceptable next step – in addition to greenhouse gas reduction – towards solving the unfolding global dilemma confronting fish populations and ocean ecosystems.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/140826