title: Fishing for ecosystem services.
abstract: Ecosystems are commonly exploited and manipulated to maximize certain human benefits. Such changes can degrade systems, leading to cascading negative effects that may be initially undetected, yet ultimately result in a reduction, or complete loss, of certain valuable ecosystem services. Ecosystem-based management is intended to maintain ecosystem quality and minimize the risk of irreversible change to natural assemblages of species and to ecosystem processes while obtaining and maintaining long-term socioeconomic benefits. We discuss policy decisions in fishery management related to commonly manipulated environments with a focus on influences to ecosystem services. By focusing on broader scales, managing for ecosystem services, and taking a more proactive approach, we expect sustainable, quality fisheries that are resilient to future disturbances. To that end, we contend that: (1) management always involves tradeoffs; (2) explicit management of fisheries for ecosystem services could facilitate a transition from reactive to proactive management; and (3) adaptive co-management is a process that could enhance management for ecosystem services. We propose adaptive co-management with an ecosystem service framework where actions are implemented within ecosystem boundaries, rather than political boundaries, through strong interjurisdictional relationships.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Geological Survey-Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA. Electronic address: kpope2@unl.edu.
authors.forename: Kevin L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Pope
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA. Electronic address: mpegg2@unl.edu.
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pegg
authors.affiliation: Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA. Electronic address: nwcole.mo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nicholas W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA. Electronic address: ssiddons2@unl.edu.
authors.forename: Stephen F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Siddons
authors.affiliation: Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA. Electronic address: lexifed@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alexis D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Fedele
authors.affiliation: Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA. Electronic address: briharmon89@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Brian S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Harmon
authors.affiliation: Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Fisheries Division, Lincoln, NE 68503, USA. Electronic address: ryan.ruskamp@nebraska.gov.
authors.forename: Ryan L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Ruskamp
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA. Electronic address: dturner438@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Dylan R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA. Electronic address: caleb.uerling@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Caleb C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Uerling
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005398:Fisheries; D005399:Fishes; D006801:Humans; D011210:Power Plants; D045483:Rivers
keywords: Adaptive management; Angler; Ecosystem management; Recreational fisheries; Social-ecological systems