Reference Points for Fisheries Management

Description

This paper reviews the conceptual background and application of technical reference points in fishery management. Despite considerable investment in stock assessment methodology and expertise, fisheries worldwide are overexploited. This appears to be due to a mismatch between the precision of assessment and the precision of management. Two types of reference points are recognized: target reference points (TRPs) and limit reference points (LRPs). The use of MSY as a target reference point is considered in the light of past performance of fishery management, and it is suggested that MSY and other reference points formerly used as targets, may be more appropriately applied as LRPs. The recent trend towards the quantification of uncertainty and estimation of risk in the provision of advice is considered to be good, but the cost and availability of information and expertise required may preclude the use of these techniques for many small or low value stocks and for most stocks in developing countries. The recent trend towards inclusion of ecosystem concepts in setting fishery management objectives is also seen as good, and overdue. Although still in their formative stages, ecosystem concepts can still provide LRPs. Effective management will require a set of rules comprising both TRPs and LRPs. In most national and international fishery management situations, the current institutional structure will probably require some modification in order to successfully apply these sets of rules. Fisheries management organizations will continue to assess and manage fisheries routinely, but management may need to develop an independent review which comes into play when resource production limits are approached. The action to be taken at such limits should be discussed and agreed in advance.

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