Some 5 years ago, Mark Hixon from the Univ. of Oregon, published an article presenting 10 Commandments for fishery scientists ans managers. Here they are, abridged:
1 - Entire ecosystem management should replace single-species management.
2 - Question every assumption, including, e.g., the (flawed) traditional fishery goal of "maximum sustainable yield". 3 - Maintain an "old growth" structure in fish populations, since big, old fish, susceptible to overfishing, are the best spawners. 3 - Maintain management boundaries so that they match natural boundaries and the spatial structure of fish stocks in the sea. 4 - Monitor and maintain fish habitats and (5 - ) resilient ecosystems able to withstand occasional shocks. 6 - Identify and maintain critical food-web connections. 7 - Be ready to adapt to ecosystem cyclic changes, including global climate change. 8 - Account for evolutionary changes caused by selective fishing off large, older fish.
9 - Include the actions of humans and their social and economic systems in all ecological equations.
Well, I couldn't find the 10th Commandement, but Amen to these nine. If I had to add mine, it would be: 10 - Remember that you can't manage either fish or climate, all you can manage are (fishing) people.
1 - Entire ecosystem management should replace single-species management.
2 - Question every assumption, including, e.g., the (flawed) traditional fishery goal of "maximum sustainable yield". 3 - Maintain an "old growth" structure in fish populations, since big, old fish, susceptible to overfishing, are the best spawners. 3 - Maintain management boundaries so that they match natural boundaries and the spatial structure of fish stocks in the sea. 4 - Monitor and maintain fish habitats and (5 - ) resilient ecosystems able to withstand occasional shocks. 6 - Identify and maintain critical food-web connections. 7 - Be ready to adapt to ecosystem cyclic changes, including global climate change. 8 - Account for evolutionary changes caused by selective fishing off large, older fish.
9 - Include the actions of humans and their social and economic systems in all ecological equations.
Well, I couldn't find the 10th Commandement, but Amen to these nine. If I had to add mine, it would be: 10 - Remember that you can't manage either fish or climate, all you can manage are (fishing) people.
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