When overfishing is the sustainable option

Katherine A. Cresswell (), L. Richard Little, Klaas Hartmann, Caleb Gardner, John P. Keane, Scott D. Ling and Stephen C. Bradshaw
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Katherine A. Cresswell: University of Tasmania
L. Richard Little: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
Klaas Hartmann: University of Tasmania
Caleb Gardner: University of Tasmania
John P. Keane: University of Tasmania
Scott D. Ling: University of Tasmania
Stephen C. Bradshaw: University of Tasmania

Nature Sustainability, 2025, vol. 8, issue 5, 498-507

Abstract: Abstract Climate change is driving species to colonize new ranges, sometimes causing uncontrollable damage. Here we present a remarkable scenario in which government-supported incentives have driven the establishment of a commercial fishery targeting a destructive urchin, intentionally encouraging overfishing to protect kelp ecosystems. This ecosystem management strategy is paradoxical in the objective to overfish sustainably. Due to consistent and increasing larval influx, the eradication of urchins in their extended range is implausible. Management, therefore, focuses on maintaining urchin density below a critical threshold while ensuring a viable commercial fishery for long-term species control. Our model dissects the fishery’s impact, offering practical strategies for controlling a destructive range extender given economic and spatial dynamics. Beyond the implications of subsidizing a commercial fishery to counteract the impacts of climate change, our study explores the conflict between exploitation and conservation, challenging traditional views and presenting practical pathways to sustainability.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41893-025-01526-8

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