Sustainable exploitation of temperate fish stocks.
The theory of maximum sustainable yield (MSY) underpins many fishery management regimes and is applied principally as a single species concept. Using a simple dynamic biomass production model we show that MSY can be identified from a long time series of multi-stock data at a regional scale in the presence of species interactions and environmental change. It suggests that MSY is robust and calculable in a multispecies environment, offering a realistic reference point for fishery management. Furthermore, the demonstration of the existence of MSY shows that it is more than a purely theoretical concept. There has been an improvement in the status of stocks in the Northeast Atlantic, but our analysis suggests further reductions in fishing effort would improve long-term yields.
Sparholt
Henrik
H
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, , H.C.Andersens Boulevard 44-46, 1553 Copenhagen V, Denmark. henriks@ices.dk
Cook
Robin M
RM
D000818:Animals; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D018533:Biomass; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017753:Ecosystem; D005398:Fisheries / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005399:Fishes / Q000254:growth & development*; D008962:Models, Theoretical