International Symposium on Fisheries Sustainability

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

International Symposium on Fisheries Sustainability International Symposium on Fisheries Sustainability Strengthening the science-policy nexus Rome, 18–21 November 2019 Cover photographs ©FAO International Symposium on Fisheries Sustainability Strengthening the science-policy nexus Rome, 18–21 November 2019 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Rome, 2019 REQUIRED CITATION: FAO. 2019. International Symposium on Fisheries Sustainability: Strengthening the science-policy nexus, 18–21 November 2019. Rome. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers, whether or not these have been patented, does not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended by FAO in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. The views expressed in this information product are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of FAO. ISBN 978-92-5-131898-0 © FAO, 2019 Some rights reserved. This work is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 IGO licence (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO; https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/igo/legalcode). Under the terms of this licence, this work may be copied, redistributed and adapted for non-commercial purposes, provided that the work is appropriately cited. In any use of this work, there should be no suggestion that FAO endorses any specific organization, products or services. The use of the FAO logo is not permitted. If the work is adapted, then it must be licensed under the same or equivalent Creative Commons licence. If a translation of this work is created, it must include the following disclaimer along with the required citation: “This translation was not created by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). FAO is not responsible for the content or accuracy of this translation. The original [Language] edition shall be the authoritative edition.” Disputes arising under the licence that cannot be settled amicably will be resolved by mediation and arbitration as described in Article 8 of the licence except as otherwise provided herein. The applicable mediation rules will be the mediation rules of the World Intellectual Property Organization http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/mediation/ rules and any arbitration will be conducted in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). Third-party materials. Users wishing to reuse material from this work that is attributed to a third party, such as tables, figures or images, are responsible for determining whether permission is needed for that reuse and for obtaining permission from the copyright holder. The risk of claims resulting from infringement of any third-party-owned component in the work rests solely with the user. Sales, rights and licensing. FAO information products are available on the FAO website (www.fao.org/publications) and can be purchased through publications- [email protected]. Requests for commercial use should be submitted via: www.fao. org/contact-us/licence-request. Queries regarding rights and licensing should be submitted to: [email protected]. PREPARATION OF THIS DOCUMENT his document has been prepared and edited by the Symposium Convenor, the FAO Session leads in collaboration with the members of the Advisory T Board of the International Symposium on Fisheries Sustainability, and the symposium’s local organizing committee. The compilation and edition of the document was carried out by Dr Diana Fernández de la Reguera. For each thematic session of the Symposium, the document includes: i. the contents of the session, ii. a ‘what you need to know’ section, iii. the themes and composition of the different panels, and iv. the questions that will be addressed in the plenary discussions. In addition, it includes the abstracts of the keynote lectures and a list of FAO relevant publications related to the different sessions. The graphic design of this publication is by Catherine Perry and Evan Jeffries (www.swim2birds.co.uk). The Symposium will take place at FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy, from 18–21 November 2019. It will bring together more than 800 participants from different sectors including academia, the private sector, government, international organizations, non-governmental organizations and civil society experts from around the world. iii 6 International Symposium on Fisheries Sustainability 2019 © FAO/Filipe Branquinho CONTENTS 09 15 21 27 Description systems: Environment, iii 09 What you need to know policy and technology PREPARATION OF SESSION 1 Panel 2.1 - Planning for Questions THIS DOCUMENT The status of global a sustainable future – and regional fisheries supporting the adoption sustainability and of complementary food 27 vii its implications security and conservation SESSION 4 FOREWORD for policy and objectives management Panel 2.2 - Making it Securing Description happen - Implementing sustainable viii What you need to know joint food security and fisheries livelihoods ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Panel 1.1 - The state of conservation objectives Description the stocks at global and Questions What you need to regional levels – Where know are we and where should ix Panel 4.1 - How do we be heading 21 ABBREVIATIONS we secure sustainable Panel 1.2 - Achieving SESSION 3 fisheries-based AND ACRONYMS sustainable Fisheries Fish in food security livelihoods, including Management: a and nutrition: from their social, cultural and developing world tide to table equity dimensions? 01 perspective Description Panel 4.2 - Innovative Questions SYMPOSIUM approaches for inclusive What you need to know OVERVIEW fisheries governance Panel 3.1 - Putting fish About the Symposium 15 coalitions, cross- Objectives and on the table: Evidence sectoral collaboration outcomes SESSION 2 and opportunities for and engagement with International Advisory Sustainable fisheries: improved nutrition in low fishers and fish workers Committee linking biodiversity resource settings – women and men Partners conservation and food - Pathways Panel 3.2 Questions Structure and contents security for improved fish food v CONTENTS 33 39 45 51 What you need to Information to be a 33 know public commodity 58 SESSION 5 Panel 6.1 - Innovative supporting sector’s REFERENCES needs The economics of technical adaptations fisheries of management Panel 7.2 - A vision systems to climate for the future - What Description 62 change technologies must be What you need to Panel 6.2 - scaled, adopted and ANNEX A know Interventions to what do emerging Speakers and Panel 5.1 - Economics minimize impacts and technologies need to panelists in fisheries policy maximize opportunities address Panel 5.2 - The social Questions Questions dimension of the 96 contribution of ANNEX B fisheries and 45 51 aquaculture to the SESSION 7 SESSION 8 Abstracts economy Fisheries Policy opportunities Questions information for fisheries in the systems and new twenty-first century 111 technologies Description ANNEX C 39 Description What you need to Further reading SESSION 6 What you need to know Fisheries know Panel 8 - Beyond the management in the Panel 7.1 - The code of conduct: policy 114 face of a changing fundamentals - What opportunities for fisheries management in ANNEX D climate central set of issues need to be addressed the twenty-first century Local organizing Description for fisheries data/ Questions committee vi FOREWORD hrough the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development governments agreed to a transformative vision to eradicate poverty in all its dimensions and to achieve T sustainable development for all. This vision, of an unprecedented scale, recognizes the three dimensions of sustainability – economic, social and environmental. The challenges to achieve Agenda 2030 are significant. After a prolonged decline, the number of undernourished people has increased to 822 million in 2018, while two billion people experience moderate or severe food insecurity. The fight against poverty and hunger demands that we use natural resources efficiently and sustainably. Fisheries and aquaculture are crucial to meet the goal of a world without hunger and malnutrition. In 2017, the sector produced 153 million tonnes of fish for direct human consumption, a seven-fold increase from 1950. As a result, global per capita fish As the only major consumption has been growing at a rate twice as fast as population growth, reaching a record-high per capita consumption of 20.3 kg in 2016. food production However, the state of fisheries resources is not good, and this compromises their future industry that relies on contribution to food security and nutrition. Although the percentage of global stocks the natural cycles of monitored by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) whose biomass is consistent with the delivery of Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) has grown renewable biological from 51 percent in 1974 to 60 percent in 2015, 33 percent of all marine fish stocks are resources, the sector fished beyond biological sustainable limits, a threefold increase since monitoring started in 1974. Fishers, in particular small-scale, are striving to maintain their lifestyle and contribute must continue
Recommended publications
  • SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES and RESPONSIBLE AQUACULTURE: a Guide for USAID Staff and Partners
    SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES AND RESPONSIBLE AQUACULTURE: A Guide for USAID Staff and Partners June 2013 ABOUT THIS GUIDE GOAL This guide provides basic information on how to design programs to reform capture fisheries (also referred to as “wild” fisheries) and aquaculture sectors to ensure sound and effective development, environmental sustainability, economic profitability, and social responsibility. To achieve these objectives, this document focuses on ways to reduce the threats to biodiversity and ecosystem productivity through improved governance and more integrated planning and management practices. In the face of food insecurity, global climate change, and increasing population pressures, it is imperative that development programs help to maintain ecosystem resilience and the multiple goods and services that ecosystems provide. Conserving biodiversity and ecosystem functions are central to maintaining ecosystem integrity, health, and productivity. The intent of the guide is not to suggest that fisheries and aquaculture are interchangeable: these sectors are unique although linked. The world cannot afford to neglect global fisheries and expect aquaculture to fill that void. Global food security will not be achievable without reversing the decline of fisheries, restoring fisheries productivity, and moving towards more environmentally friendly and responsible aquaculture. There is a need for reform in both fisheries and aquaculture to reduce their environmental and social impacts. USAID’s experience has shown that well-designed programs can reform capture fisheries management, reducing threats to biodiversity while leading to increased productivity, incomes, and livelihoods. Agency programs have focused on an ecosystem-based approach to management in conjunction with improved governance, secure tenure and access to resources, and the application of modern management practices.
    [Show full text]
  • Why Study Bycatch? an Introduction to the Theme Section on Fisheries Bycatch
    Vol. 5: 91–102, 2008 ENDANGERED SPECIES RESEARCH Printed December 2008 doi: 10.3354/esr00175 Endang Species Res Published online December xx, 2008 Contribution to the Theme Section ‘Fisheries bycatch problems and solutions’ OPENPEN ACCESSCCESS Why study bycatch? An introduction to the Theme Section on fisheries bycatch Candan U. Soykan1,*, Jeffrey E. Moore2, Ramunas ¯ 5ydelis2, Larry B. Crowder2, Carl Safina3, Rebecca L. Lewison1 1Biology Department, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Dr., San Diego, California 92182-4614, USA 2Center for Marine Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort,North Carolina 28516, USA 3Blue Ocean Institute, PO Box 250, East Norwich, New York 11732, USA ABSTRACT: Several high-profile examples of fisheries bycatch involving marine megafauna (e.g. dolphins in tuna purse-seines, albatrosses in pelagic longlines, sea turtles in shrimp trawls) have drawn attention to the unintentional capture of non-target species during fishing operations, and have resulted in a dramatic increase in bycatch research over the past 2 decades. Although a number of successful mitigation measures have been developed, the scope of the bycatch problem far exceeds our current capacity to deal with it. Specifically, we lack a comprehensive understanding of bycatch rates across species, fisheries, and ocean basins, and, with few exceptions, we lack data on demographic responses to bycatch or the in situ effectiveness of existing mitigation measures. As an introduction to this theme section of Endangered Species Research ‘Fisheries bycatch: problems and solutions’, we focus on 5 bycatch-related questions that require research attention, building on exam- ples from the current literature and the contributions to this Theme Section.
    [Show full text]
  • SEAWEED in the TROPICAL SEASCAPE Stina Tano
    SEAWEED IN THE TROPICAL SEASCAPE Stina Tano Seaweed in the tropical seascape Importance, problems and potential Stina Tano ©Stina Tano, Stockholm University 2016 Cover photo: Eucheuma denticulatum and Ulva sp. All photos in the thesis by the author. ISBN 978-91-7649-396-0 Printed in Sweden by Holmbergs, Malmö 2016 Distributor: Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Science To Johan I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be. Douglas Adams ABSTRACT The increasing demand for seaweed extracts has led to the introduction of non-native seaweeds for farming purposes in many tropical regions. Such intentional introductions can lead to spread of non-native seaweeds from farming areas, which can become established in and alter the dynamics of the recipient ecosystems. While tropical seaweeds are of great interest for aquaculture, and have received much attention as pests in the coral reef literature, little is known about the problems and potential of natural populations, or the role of natural seaweed beds in the tropical seascape. This thesis aims to investigate the spread of non-native genetic strains of the tropical macroalga Eucheuma denticulatum, which have been intentionally introduced for seaweed farming purposes in East Africa, and to evaluate the state of the genetically distinct but morphologically similar native populations. Additionally it aims to investigate the ecological role of seaweed beds in terms of the habitat utilization by fish and mobile invertebrate epifauna. The thesis also aims to evaluate the potential of native populations of eucheumoid seaweeds in regard to seaweed farming.
    [Show full text]
  • Field Experiments Show That Acoustic Pingers Reduce Marine Mammal Bycatch in the California Drift Gill Net Fishery
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Publications, Agencies and Staff of the U.S. Department of Commerce U.S. Department of Commerce 2003 FIELD EXPERIMENTS SHOW THAT ACOUSTIC PINGERS REDUCE MARINE MAMMAL BYCATCH IN THE CALIFORNIA DRIFT GILL NET FISHERY Jay Barlow National Marine Fisheries Service, [email protected] Grant A. Cameron UCSD Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdeptcommercepub Part of the Environmental Sciences Commons Barlow, Jay and Cameron, Grant A., "FIELD EXPERIMENTS SHOW THAT ACOUSTIC PINGERS REDUCE MARINE MAMMAL BYCATCH IN THE CALIFORNIA DRIFT GILL NET FISHERY" (2003). Publications, Agencies and Staff of the U.S. Department of Commerce. 236. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdeptcommercepub/236 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the U.S. Department of Commerce at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Publications, Agencies and Staff of the U.S. Department of Commerce by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE, 19(2):265-283 (April 2003) 0 2003 by the Society for Marine Mammalogy FIELD EXPERIMENTS SHOW THAT ACOUSTIC PINGERS REDUCE MARINE MAMMAL BYCATCH IN THE CALIFORNIA DRIFT GILL NET FISHERY JAY BARLOW GRANTA. CAMERON’ Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, 8604 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, California 92037, U.S.A. E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT A controlled experiment was carried out in 19961997 to determine whether acoustic deterrent devices (pingers) reduce marine mammal bycatch in the California drift gill net fishery for swordfish and sharks.
    [Show full text]
  • Coastal Upwelling Revisited: Ekman, Bakun, and Improved 10.1029/2018JC014187 Upwelling Indices for the U.S
    Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans RESEARCH ARTICLE Coastal Upwelling Revisited: Ekman, Bakun, and Improved 10.1029/2018JC014187 Upwelling Indices for the U.S. West Coast Key Points: Michael G. Jacox1,2 , Christopher A. Edwards3 , Elliott L. Hazen1 , and Steven J. Bograd1 • New upwelling indices are presented – for the U.S. West Coast (31 47°N) to 1NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Monterey, CA, USA, 2NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory, Boulder, CO, address shortcomings in historical 3 indices USA, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA • The Coastal Upwelling Transport Index (CUTI) estimates vertical volume transport (i.e., Abstract Coastal upwelling is responsible for thriving marine ecosystems and fisheries that are upwelling/downwelling) disproportionately productive relative to their surface area, particularly in the world’s major eastern • The Biologically Effective Upwelling ’ Transport Index (BEUTI) estimates boundary upwelling systems. Along oceanic eastern boundaries, equatorward wind stress and the Earth s vertical nitrate flux rotation combine to drive a near-surface layer of water offshore, a process called Ekman transport. Similarly, positive wind stress curl drives divergence in the surface Ekman layer and consequently upwelling from Supporting Information: below, a process known as Ekman suction. In both cases, displaced water is replaced by upwelling of relatively • Supporting Information S1 nutrient-rich water from below, which stimulates the growth of microscopic phytoplankton that form the base of the marine food web. Ekman theory is foundational and underlies the calculation of upwelling indices Correspondence to: such as the “Bakun Index” that are ubiquitous in eastern boundary upwelling system studies. While generally M. G. Jacox, fi [email protected] valuable rst-order descriptions, these indices and their underlying theory provide an incomplete picture of coastal upwelling.
    [Show full text]
  • The Cultivation of Kappaphycus and Eucheuma in Tropical 4 and Sub-­Tropical Waters
    The Cultivation of Kappaphycus and Eucheuma in Tropical 4 and Sub-­Tropical Waters Leila Hayashi, Renata P. Reis, Alex Alves dos Santos, Beatriz Castelar, Daniel Robledo, Gloria Batista de Vega, Flower E. Msuya, K. Eswaran, Suhaimi Md. Yasir, Majid Khan Majahar Ali, and Anicia Q. Hurtado Abstract Kappaphycus and Eucheuma species have been successfully cultivated in Southeast Asia since the early 1970s. The increasing global demand for carrageenan in processed foods and thereby the need for industrial-scales of biomass to be provided to feed an extraction indus- try, exceeded wild stock availability and productivity and commercial demands could only be achieved through extensive cultivation of selected carrageenophytes. This unprecedented situation led to the introduction of carrageenophyte species and cultivars around the world; combined production of Eucheuma and Kappaphycus is one of the largest for seaweed bio- mass in the world. The activity of, and economic benefits accrued from, seaweed farming are indeed respon- sible for significant changes in rural, coastal communities in a number of important coun- tries. Such activities generating new activity and income are often the only source of cash G.B. de Vega Director de Investigación y Desarrollo (I+D) de Gracilarias de L. Hayashi (*) Panamá S.A., and Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Tecnología, Aquaculture Department, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina Universidad de Panamá, Panamá (UFSC), Rodovia Admar Gonzaga, 1346, Itacorubi, 88034-001 Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil F.E. Msuya Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Dar es Salaam, Integrated Services for the Development of Aquaculture and Mizingani Road, P.O. Box 668, Zanzibar, Tanzania Fisheries (ISDA) Inc., McArthur Highway, Tabuc Suba, Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines K.
    [Show full text]
  • Seafood Watch® Standard for Fisheries
    1 Seafood Watch® Standard for Fisheries Table of Contents Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 2 Seafood Watch Guiding Principles ...................................................................................................... 3 Seafood Watch Criteria and Scoring Methodology for Fisheries ........................................................... 5 Criterion 1 – Impacts on the Species Under Assessment ...................................................................... 8 Factor 1.1 Abundance .................................................................................................................... 9 Factor 1.2 Fishing Mortality ......................................................................................................... 19 Criterion 2 – Impacts on Other Capture Species ................................................................................ 22 Factor 2.1 Abundance .................................................................................................................. 26 Factor 2.2 Fishing Mortality ......................................................................................................... 27 Factor 2.3 Modifying Factor: Discards and Bait Use .................................................................... 29 Criterion
    [Show full text]
  • Other Processes Regulating Ecosystem Productivity and Fish Production in the Western Indian Ocean Andrew Bakun, Claude Ray, and Salvador Lluch-Cota
    CoaStalUpwellinO' and Other Processes Regulating Ecosystem Productivity and Fish Production in the Western Indian Ocean Andrew Bakun, Claude Ray, and Salvador Lluch-Cota Abstract /1 Theseasonal intensity of wind-induced coastal upwelling in the western Indian Ocean is investigated. The upwelling off Northeast Somalia stands out as the dominant upwelling feature in the region, producing by far the strongest seasonal upwelling pulse that exists as a; regular feature in any ocean on our planet. It is surmised that the productive pelagic fish habitat off Southwest India may owe its particularly favorable attributes to coastal trapped wave propagation originating in a region of very strong wind-driven offshore trans­ port near the southern extremity of the Indian Subcontinent. Effects of relatively mild austral summer upwelling that occurs in certain coastal ecosystems of the southern hemi­ sphere may be suppressed by the effects of intense onshore transport impacting these areas during the opposite (SW Monsoon) period. An explanation for the extreme paucity of fish landings, as well as for the unusually high production of oceanic (tuna) fisheries relative to coastal fisheries, is sought in the extremely dissipative nature of the physical systems of the region. In this respect, it appears that the Gulf of Aden and some areas within the Mozambique Channel could act as important retention areas and sources of i "see6stock" for maintenance of the function and dillersitv of the lamer reoional biolooical , !I ecosystems. 103 104 large Marine EcosySlIlms ofthe Indian Ocean - . Introduction The western Indian Ocean is the site ofsome of the most dynamically varying-. large marine ecosystems (LMEs) that exist on our planet.
    [Show full text]
  • ICELAND, WHALING and ECOSYSTEM - BASED FISHERY MANAGEMENT
    ICELAND, WHALING and ECOSYSTEM - BASED FISHERY MANAGEMENT PETER CORKERON Iceland, whaling and ecosystem-based fishery management. Peter Corkeron Ph.D. http://aleakage.blogspot.com/ 1 Introduction Icelanders look to the sea, and always have. Fishing has always been important to them, and they have a good record of attempting to ensure that their fisheries are sustainable. As the Icelandic Ministry of Fisheries stated in a declaration on 17th October 2006, “The Icelandic economy is overwhelmingly dependent on the utilisation of living marine resources in the ocean around the country. The sustainability of the utilisation is therefore of central importance for the long-term well being of the Icelandic people. For this reason, Iceland places great emphasis on effective management of fisheries and on scientific research on all the components of the marine ecosystem. At a time when many fish stocks around the world are declining, or even depleted, Iceland's marine resources are generally in a healthy state, because of this emphasis. The annual catch quotas for fishing and whaling are based on recommendations by scientists, who regularly monitor the status of stocks, thus ensuring that the activity is sustainable.”. Fisheries account for approximately 40% of the value of Iceland’s exported goods and exported services, and roughly two-thirds of Iceland's exported goods, minus services. Fisheries and fish processing account for little under 10% of Iceland’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), down from more than 15% in 1980. With a population of just over 300,000 in 2007, Iceland is the world’s 178th largest nation, but in 2002 it was still ranked as the world’s 13th largest fisheries exporter.
    [Show full text]
  • Fisheries Oceanography Warren S
    FISHERIES OCEANOGRAPHY WARREN S. WOOSTER ’ Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California, La Jolla, California In considering how to summarize the oceanographic stirring aiid cmistal np~~~lling)or secontlary effects aspects of the papers we have just heard, I found of thr wind-driven circulation (for exaniple, doming my thoughts falling into several distinct rategories- or ridging). the definition and goals of fisheries oceanography, cur- The near surface circulation may aff~ctdirectly rent practice in this field, adthe success of this the distribution or abundance of organisms at all approach. trophic lcvc~ls. In addition, changes in the intensity Some may feel that fisheries oceanography is noth- of the refertilizing procc’sst’s are reflected in the time ing more spwific than the broad assemblage of prob- mid spaw distribution of primary produc:tioii. This lems being studied by oceanographers working for in turii affects production iii thr n~xthig1ic.r trophic fishery laboratories. The interests of marine fisheries level, aiid so on. with assorted time and spac:e lags, scieiitists and those of oceanographers overlap in SO to the desircd fish. At each step ill this line of rwson- maiiy arras that aliiiost any marine rc>search can be iiig, rrfinmnieiits and eoniplications are involvrtl, but, inclnded in a suitably broad definition. But unfor- the basic thciiie of the model reinaiiis: tniiately \uch broad definitions haw little opera- ii (’haiiges in the wind firld lcacl eve~ltually to tional value. changes in the succ(~ssof fishing. ’’ One might speak, however, of a somewhat restricted Th(3 goal of investigatioii of this niotlel is often roil- area of marine research which could be calld ecologi- siderrd to be prdictioii.
    [Show full text]
  • 60 Years of Coral Reef Fish Ecology: Past, Present, Future
    BULLETIN OF MARINE SCIENCE. 87(4):727–765. 2011 CORAL REEF PAPER http://dx.doi.org/10.5343/bms.2010.1055 60 YEARS OF CORAL REEF FISH ECOLOGY: PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE Mark A Hixon ABSTRACT Revisiting the past 60 yrs of studies of the ecology of fishes on coral reefs reveals successive decadal trends that highlight many lasting contributions relevant to fisheries biology, conservation biology, and ecology in general. The Bulletin of Marine Science was founded in 1951, about the same time SCUBA was first used to study reef fishes, so the 1950s was a decade of initial subtidal exploration by early pioneers. Detailed natural-history investigations of the use of space, food, and time by reef fishes developed in the 1960s, including studies based from undersea habitats late that decade. The 1970s saw the first comprehensive observational studies of reef- fish communities, as well as initial breakthroughs in behavioral ecology, especially regarding cleaning symbiosis, mating systems, and sex reversal. In community ecology, the conventional wisdom—that interspecific competition structured reef-fish assemblages via equilibrium dynamics and resource partitioning—was called into question by the “lottery hypothesis,” which posited that coexistence of ecologically similar species was fostered by nonequilibrial dynamics. The 1980s, in turn, were dominated by debate regarding the relative importance of larval supply vs post-settlement interactions in determining the local abundance and diversity of reef fishes. The “recruitment limitation hypothesis” asserted that larval settlement was so low that subsequent population dynamics were not only unpredictable, but also density-independent. Population and community studies during the 1990s thus focused largely on detecting demographic density dependence in reef-fish populations and identifying the mechanisms underlying this ultimate source of population regulation.
    [Show full text]
  • Wasted Catch: Unsolved Problems in U.S. Fisheries
    © Brian Skerry WASTED CATCH: UNSOLVED PROBLEMS IN U.S. FISHERIES Authors: Amanda Keledjian, Gib Brogan, Beth Lowell, Jon Warrenchuk, Ben Enticknap, Geoff Shester, Michael Hirshfield and Dominique Cano-Stocco CORRECTION: This report referenced a bycatch rate of 40% as determined by Davies et al. 2009, however that calculation used a broader definition of bycatch than is standard. According to bycatch as defined in this report and elsewhere, the most recent analyses show a rate of approximately 10% (Zeller et al. 2017; FAO 2018). © Brian Skerry ACCORDING TO SOME ESTIMATES, GLOBAL BYCATCH MAY AMOUNT TO 40 PERCENT OF THE WORLD’S CATCH, TOTALING 63 BILLION POUNDS PER YEAR CORRECTION: This report referenced a bycatch rate of 40% as determined by Davies et al. 2009, however that calculation used a broader definition of bycatch than is standard. According to bycatch as defined in this report and elsewhere, the most recent analyses show a rate of approximately 10% (Zeller et al. 2017; FAO 2018). CONTENTS 05 Executive Summary 06 Quick Facts 06 What Is Bycatch? 08 Bycatch Is An Undocumented Problem 10 Bycatch Occurs Every Day In The U.S. 15 Notable Progress, But No Solution 26 Nine Dirty Fisheries 37 National Policies To Minimize Bycatch 39 Recommendations 39 Conclusion 40 Oceana Reducing Bycatch: A Timeline 42 References ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors would like to thank Jennifer Hueting and In-House Creative for graphic design and the following individuals for their contributions during the development and review of this report: Eric Bilsky, Dustin Cranor, Mike LeVine, Susan Murray, Jackie Savitz, Amelia Vorpahl, Sara Young and Beckie Zisser.
    [Show full text]