title: Evolutionary impact assessment: accounting for evolutionary consequences of fishing in an ecosystem approach to fisheries management.
abstract: Managing fisheries resources to maintain healthy ecosystems is one of the main goals of the ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF). While a number of international treaties call for the implementation of EAF, there are still gaps in the underlying methodology. One aspect that has received substantial scientific attention recently is fisheries-induced evolution (FIE). Increasing evidence indicates that intensive fishing has the potential to exert strong directional selection on life-history traits, behaviour, physiology, and morphology of exploited fish. Of particular concern is that reversing evolutionary responses to fishing can be much more difficult than reversing demographic or phenotypically plastic responses. Furthermore, like climate change, multiple agents cause FIE, with effects accumulating over time. Consequently, FIE may alter the utility derived from fish stocks, which in turn can modify the monetary value living aquatic resources provide to society. Quantifying and predicting the evolutionary effects of fishing is therefore important for both ecological and economic reasons. An important reason this is not happening is the lack of an appropriate assessment framework. We therefore describe the evolutionary impact assessment (EvoIA) as a structured approach for assessing the evolutionary consequences of fishing and evaluating the predicted evolutionary outcomes of alternative management options. EvoIA can contribute to EAF by clarifying how evolution may alter stock properties and ecological relations, support the precautionary approach to fisheries management by addressing a previously overlooked source of uncertainty and risk, and thus contribute to sustainable fisheries.
authors.affiliation: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Ecology, Box 7044, SE-75643, Uppsala, Sweden ; IFREMER, Laboratoire Ressources Halieutiques, Avenue du Général de Gaulle, F-14520, Port-en-Bessin, France.
authors.forename: Ane T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Laugen
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, NR33 0HT, UK.
authors.forename: Georg H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Engelhard
authors.affiliation: Evolution and Ecology Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Schlossplatz 1, A-2361, Laxenburg, Austria ; Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, 120 Oceanview Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, California, USA ; Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, Itäinen Pitkäkatu 3, FI-20520, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Whitlock
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, Berlin, 12587, Germany ; Department for Crop and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Horticulture, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philippstrasse 13, Haus 7, 10115, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arlinghaus
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Research, PO Box 1870, Nordnes, NO-5817, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Dorothy J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Dankel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Research, PO Box 1870, Nordnes, NO-5817, Bergen, Norway ; EvoFish Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Box 7803, NO-5020, Bergen, Norway ; Aquatic Research and Development Section, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 300 Water Street, PO Box 7000, Peterborough, ON, Canada, K9J 8M5.
authors.forename: Erin S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Dunlop
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), University of Oslo, PO Box 1066, Blindern, NO-0316, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Eikeset
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Research, PO Box 1870, Nordnes, NO-5817, Bergen, Norway ; EvoFish Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Box 7803, NO-5020, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Enberg
authors.affiliation: EvoFish Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Box 7803, NO-5020, Bergen, Norway ; Computational Ecology Unit, Uni Research, PO Box 7810, NO-5020, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.affiliation: Evolution and Ecology Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Schlossplatz 1, A-2361, Laxenburg, Austria ; Department of Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, Berlin, 12587, Germany ; Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Yanagido 1-1, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan.
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsumura
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Biophore, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland ; Conservation Biology, Bern University, Erlachstrasse 9a, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nusslé
authors.affiliation: Evolution and Ecology Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Schlossplatz 1, A-2361, Laxenburg, Austria ; Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, The Class of 1978 Life Sciences Center, 78 College Street, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA.
authors.forename: Davnah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Urbach
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Research, PO Box 1870, Nordnes, NO-5817, Bergen, Norway ; EvoFish Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Box 7803, NO-5020, Bergen, Norway ; Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Center, Agrocampus Ouest Centre de Rennes, 65 rue de Saint Brieuc, CS 84215, F-35042, Rennes Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Loїc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baulier
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Research, PO Box 1870, Nordnes, NO-5817, Bergen, Norway ; EvoFish Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Box 7803, NO-5020, Bergen, Norway ; Department of Ecosystems Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 31, CZ-37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Boukal
authors.affiliation: Evolution and Ecology Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Schlossplatz 1, A-2361, Laxenburg, Austria ; IFREMER, Laboratoire Ressources Halieutiques, 150 quai Gambetta, BP 699, F-62321, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ernande
authors.affiliation: Evolution and Ecology Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Schlossplatz 1, A-2361, Laxenburg, Austria ; Department of Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, Berlin, 12587, Germany ; Department for Crop and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Horticulture, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philippstrasse 13, Haus 7, 10115, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Fiona D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.affiliation: Evolution and Ecology Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Schlossplatz 1, A-2361, Laxenburg, Austria ; Wageningen IMARES, Postbus 68, 1970, AB IJmuiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mollet
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, MARICE, University of Iceland, Askja, Sturlugata 7, 101, Reykjavik, Iceland.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pardoe
authors.affiliation: Section for Population Ecology and Genetics, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Vejlsøvej 39, DK-8600, Silkeborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Nina O
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Therkildsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, Berlin, 12587, Germany ; Division of Genetics and Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, Pharmacity, FI-20014, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Silva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uusi-Heikkilä
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland ; Swedish Board of Fisheries, Institute of Coastal Research, PO Box 109, SE-74222, Öregrund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anssi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vainikka
authors.affiliation: Evolution and Ecology Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Schlossplatz 1, A-2361, Laxenburg, Austria ; Institute of Marine Research, PO Box 1870, Nordnes, NO-5817, Bergen, Norway ; EvoFish Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Box 7803, NO-5020, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Mikko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heino
authors.affiliation: Wageningen IMARES, Postbus 68, 1970, AB IJmuiden, The Netherlands ; Aquaculture and Fisheries Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research Centre, PO Box 338, 6700, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Adriaan D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Rijnsdorp
authors.affiliation: Evolution and Ecology Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Schlossplatz 1, A-2361, Laxenburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dieckmann
keywords: Ecosystem approach to fisheries; ecosystem services; fisheries yield; fisheries-induced evolution; impact assessment; sustainable fisheries