Identifying management actions that promote sustainable fisheries

Michael C. Melnychuk (), Hiroyuki Kurota, Pamela M. Mace, Maite Pons, Cóilín Minto, Giacomo Chato Osio, Olaf P. Jensen, Carryn L. de Moor, Ana M. Parma, L. Richard Little, Daniel Hively, Charmane E. Ashbrook, Nicole Baker, Ricardo O. Amoroso, Trevor A. Branch, Christopher M. Anderson, Cody S. Szuwalski, Julia K. Baum, Tim R. McClanahan, Yimin Ye, Alessandro Ligas, Jilali Bensbai, Grant G. Thompson, John DeVore, Arni Magnusson, Bjarte Bogstad, Edward Wort, Jake Rice and Ray Hilborn
Additional contact information
Michael C. Melnychuk: University of Washington
Hiroyuki Kurota: Fisheries Resources Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency
Pamela M. Mace: Fisheries New Zealand
Maite Pons: University of Washington
Cóilín Minto: Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology
Giacomo Chato Osio: Unit D.02 Water and Marine Resources, Directorate D—Sustainable Resources, Joint Research Centre, European Commission
Olaf P. Jensen: Rutgers University
Carryn L. de Moor: University of Cape Town
Ana M. Parma: Center for the Study of Marine Systems, CONICET
L. Richard Little: CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere
Daniel Hively: University of Washington
Charmane E. Ashbrook: University of Washington
Nicole Baker: University of Washington
Ricardo O. Amoroso: University of Washington
Trevor A. Branch: University of Washington
Christopher M. Anderson: University of Washington
Cody S. Szuwalski: Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA
Julia K. Baum: University of Victoria
Tim R. McClanahan: Global Marine Program, Wildlife Conservation Society
Yimin Ye: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Alessandro Ligas: Consorzio per il Centro Interuniversitario di Biologia Marina ed Ecologia Applicata
Jilali Bensbai: Institut National de Recherche Halieutique
Grant G. Thompson: Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA
John DeVore: Pacific Fishery Management Council
Arni Magnusson: ICES Secretariat
Bjarte Bogstad: Institute of Marine Research
Edward Wort: University of Plymouth
Jake Rice: Science Branch, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ray Hilborn: University of Washington

Nature Sustainability, 2021, vol. 4, issue 5, 440-449

Abstract: Abstract Which management actions work best to prevent or halt overfishing and to rebuild depleted populations? A comprehensive evaluation of multiple, co-occurring management actions on the sustainability status of marine populations has been lacking. Here we compiled detailed management histories for 288 assessed fisheries from around the world (accounting for 45% of those with formal stock assessments) and used hierarchical time-series analyses to estimate effects of different management interventions on trends in stock status. Rebuilding plans, applied less commonly than other management measures (implemented at some point historically for 43% of stocks), rapidly lowered fishing pressure towards target levels and emerged as the most important factor enabling overfished populations to recover. Additionally, the ratification of international fishing agreements, and harvest control rules specifying how catch limits should vary with population biomass, helped to reduce overfishing and rebuild biomass. Notably, we found that benefits of management actions are cumulative—as more are implemented, stock status improves and predicted long-term catches increase. Thus, a broad suite of management measures at local, national and international levels appears to be key to sustaining fish populations and food production.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41893-020-00668-1

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