Rebuilding global fisheries.
After a long history of overexploitation, increasing efforts to restore marine ecosystems and rebuild fisheries are under way. Here, we analyze current trends from a fisheries and conservation perspective. In 5 of 10 well-studied ecosystems, the average exploitation rate has recently declined and is now at or below the rate predicted to achieve maximum sustainable yield for seven systems. Yet 63% of assessed fish stocks worldwide still require rebuilding, and even lower exploitation rates are needed to reverse the collapse of vulnerable species. Combined fisheries and conservation objectives can be achieved by merging diverse management actions, including catch restrictions, gear modification, and closed areas, depending on local context. Impacts of international fleets and the lack of alternatives to fishing complicate prospects for rebuilding fisheries in many poorer regions, highlighting the need for a global perspective on rebuilding marine resources.
Worm
Boris
B
Biology Department, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4J1, Canada. bworm@dal.ca
Hilborn
Ray
R
Baum
Julia K
JK
Branch
Trevor A
TA
Collie
Jeremy S
JS
Costello
Christopher
C
Fogarty
Michael J
MJ
Fulton
Elizabeth A
EA
Hutchings
Jeffrey A
JA
Jennings
Simon
S
Jensen
Olaf P
OP
Lotze
Heike K
HK
Mace
Pamela M
PM
McClanahan
Tim R
TR
Minto
Cóilín
C
Palumbi
Stephen R
SR
Parma
Ana M
AM
Ricard
Daniel
D
Rosenberg
Andrew A
AA
Watson
Reg
R
Zeller
Dirk
D
D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D018533:Biomass; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D005398:Fisheries / Q000379:methods; D005399:Fishes / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D038622:Internationality; D008386:Marine Biology; D008954:Models, Biological; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D011157:Population Dynamics