University of Rhode Island DigitalCommons@URI Open Access Master's Theses 2013 A Difference in Perspective: A Comparison of Ecosystem and Single-Species Focused Fisheries Management Catherine M. Foley University of Rhode Island,
[email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/theses Recommended Citation Foley, Catherine M., "A Difference in Perspective: A Comparison of Ecosystem and Single-Species Focused Fisheries Management" (2013). Open Access Master's Theses. Paper 45. https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/theses/45 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@URI. It has been accepted for inclusion in Open Access Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@URI. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. A DIFFERENCE IN PERSPECTIVE: A COMPARISON OF ECOSYSTEM AND SINGLE-SPECIES FOCUSED FISHERIES MANAGEMNET BY CATHERINE M. FOLEY A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN MARINE AFFAIRS UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND 2013 MASTER OF ARTS IN MARINE AFFAIRS THESIS OF CATHERINE M. FOLEY APPROVED: Thesis Committee: Major Professor: Richard Burroughs Seth Macinko Jeremy Collie Nasser H. Zawia DEAN OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND 2013 ABSTRACT Currently, most fisheries management bodies utilize a narrow, single-species focus in decision-making processes. These methodologies, however, fail to recognize the interrelated nature of ecosystems, and as such are unable to produce realistic and valid estimates of sustainable yield. One proposed method of integrating ecosystem data into the decision-making process of fisheries management involves quantifying ecosystem diversity.