The Stock Concept, Discreteness of Fish Stocks, and Fisheries Management

This paper examines the concept and definition of fish stocks and the processes that influence discreteness of these stocks in light of the tactics necessary for the application of the concept in management. Two approaches to the definition of stocks are discussed. These differ in the extent to which management inputs other than biological ones are considered. We consider definition to be less important than the adoption and development of a stock concept to provide a genetic perspective for fisheries management. The two central levels of the stock concept — the subdivision of species into local populations and the adaptive nature of genetic differences between these populations — are discussed with respect to the interlinked set of ecological and genetic processes that result in subdivision and determine the discreteness of these stocks. Genetic discreteness usually implies some restriction of gene flow, and spatial and temporal mechanisms of isolation are discussed with examples from the STOCS symposium. The structure of subdivided populations is seen as the result of behavioral processes that are one component of a set of coadapted traits, which collectively constitute a life history strategy. The necessity for managers to develop a new integrated view of species, which incorporates both ecological and genetic arguments, is discussed.Key words: stock concept, life history, gene flow, ecological and genetic discreteness, local adaptation stock management

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Seascape and its effect on migratory life-history strategy influences gene flow among coastal brown trout (Salmo trutta) populations in the English Channel

Journal of Biogeography ◽

10.1111/jbi.12632 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 43 (3) ◽

pp. 498-509 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Erwan Quéméré ◽

Jean-Luc Baglinière ◽

Jean-Marc Roussel ◽

Guillaume Evanno ◽

Philip McGinnity ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Gene Flow ◽

Brown Trout ◽

Salmo Trutta ◽

Life History Strategy ◽

English Channel ◽

Brown Trout Salmo Trutta

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Physiological biomarkers and fisheries management

Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries ◽

10.1007/s11160-021-09677-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Pablo Brosset ◽

Steven J. Cooke ◽

Quentin Schull ◽

Verena M. Trenkel ◽

Philippe Soudant ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fisheries Management ◽

Species Conservation ◽

Population Level ◽

Fish Stock ◽

Stock Management ◽

Management Scenarios ◽

Fish Stocks ◽

Fisheries Science ◽

Mechanistic Basis ◽

Species Specific

AbstractThe benefits of physiological biomarkers, knowledge and concepts are well-established in fish and wildlife management as they confer the ability to understand mechanistic processes, identify cause-and-effect relationships, and develop predictive models. Although this approach is gaining momentum in the context of species conservation, the use of physiological biomarkers in exploited marine fish stock management and recovery plans remains relatively rare. Here, we present five essential issues to consider to implement physiological biomarkers in fisheries management: (i) choice of relevant biomarkers that have a well-known mechanistic basis, (ii) identification of species-specific biomarkers reflecting a meaningful timespan for management, (iii) selection of biomarkers compatible with data collection during routine scientific fisheries surveys, (iv) use of biomarkers as early-warning signals and complementary indicators of population-level changes in life history traits and (v) how physiological biomarkers may help to refine long-term population dynamic projections under climate change and management scenarios. Overall, if based on well-established mechanisms linked to individuals’ fitness, a focus on physiological biomarkers should help to better understand the mechanisms behind stock declines, changes in stock characteristics, and thus more efficiently manage marine fisheries and conserve populations. As this approach is transferable among species, locations, and times, the integration of physiological biomarkers in fisheries science has the potential to more broadly enhance assessments and management of fish stocks.

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Assessment of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations Efforts toward the Precautionary Approach and Science-Based Stock Management and Compliance Measures

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13158128 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (15) ◽

pp. 8128

Author(s):

Mervin Ogawa ◽

Joseph Anthony L. Reyes

Keyword(s):

Fisheries Management ◽

Human Consumption ◽

Stock Management ◽

Precautionary Approach ◽

Fish Stocks ◽

Performance Reviews ◽

Government Mandates ◽

The Right ◽

Regional Fisheries Management Organizations ◽

Regional Fisheries Management

The sustainable management of the ocean as a global food source has been prominent in recent debates due to the disproportionate rate of human consumption, depletion of fish stocks and shortcomings in conservation efforts. Criticisms from various sectors on the effectiveness of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMO) in relation to their mandates have prompted performance reviews (PRs) to evaluate their efforts in fisheries management. Among concerns are slow implementation of comprehensive harvest strategies which use science-based indicators and management principles. Moreover, RFMOs are expected to apply the precautionary approach, in the hopes of anticipating, monitoring, preventing and mitigating potential threats. The emergent themes are revealed through content analysis pertaining to cooperation and compliance being essential to fisheries management activities in conjunction with choosing the right operational approaches and the proper implementation of various fisheries regulations. Government mandates and stakeholder’s recommendations support fisheries management organizations to function more effectively. This article discusses the role of coercive, normative and mimetic pressures in RFMOs activities, as described in recent performance reviews. It then analyses how RFMOs have implemented the precautionary approach together with science-based stock management and compliance measures, utilizing recent PRs to assess progress on relevant recommendations.

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Exploitation of deep-sea fishery resources

Natural Capital and Exploitation of the Deep Ocean ◽

10.1093/oso/9780198841654.003.0004 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 71-90

Author(s):

Les Watling ◽

Lissette Victorero ◽

Jeffrey Drazen ◽

Matthew Gianni

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Fisheries Management ◽

Deep Sea ◽

Environmental Harm ◽

Fishing Gear ◽

Bottom Trawling ◽

Fish Stocks ◽

Sea Bottom ◽

Fish Catch ◽

Sea Fish

Deep-sea fisheries occur at depths between 200 and 1800 m, using bottom trawls, long lines, and occasionally pots and gillnets. These fisheries were of minor interest and value until the mid-1980s when large stocks of fish were discovered, mostly on high-seas seamounts. However, because of the life-history characteristics of deep-dwelling fish, most seamount fish stocks were soon overfished, and few have recovered. Total deep-sea fish catch since 1950 represents about 3 per cent of the global catch, yet the environmental harm caused to deep-sea bottom communities by bottom trawling is extensive and long lasting, far exceeding the value of the fishery. In response, the United Nations has passed several resolutions since 2004 requiring the establishment of regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs) who would be responsible for setting catch limits for the target species and requiring actions that would limit the damage to the habitat by fishing gear. To date, the latter of these two requirements, at least, has not been successfully met.

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Toward a definition of conservation principles for fisheries management

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f95-751 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 52 (7) ◽

pp. 1584-1594 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

C. H. Olver ◽

B. J. Shuter ◽

C. K. Minns

Keyword(s):

Fisheries Management ◽

Clear Definition ◽

Fish Stocks ◽

Ecological Ethic ◽

History Of ◽

Conservation Principles ◽

Definition Of

Conservation, like beauty, is clearly in the eye of the beholder. The lack of a clear definition of what is meant by the term conservation, however, may encourage misconceptions about the degree to which biological objectives can be traded off against pressing economic and social objectives. Our purpose is to promote a dialogue about the meaning and practice of conservation, which might lead toward consensus on essential biological objectives. We present a brief history of the philosophical evolution of the term conservation and offer a definition of conservation based on the argument for an ecological ethic. This ethic requires that human benefits be derived in a sustainable manner and recognizes that human uses need to be reconciled with intrinsic and necessary ecosystemic functions and structures. We then present a preliminary set of operating principles applicable to the management of fish stocks that are consistent with an ecological or ecosystemic view of conservation. By proposing a set of conservation principles for fisheries management we hope to initiate a debate about just what those principles ought to be.

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Adolescence as a Biocultural Life History Transition

Annual Review of Anthropology ◽

10.1146/annurev-anthro-102218-011118 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 48 (1) ◽

pp. 151-168 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Meredith W. Reiches

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Life History Theory ◽

Pubertal Timing ◽

Life History Strategy ◽

Somatic Growth ◽

Reproductive Maturity ◽

Reproductive Maturation ◽

Delayed Reproduction ◽

Definition Of ◽

Adult Roles

While the categories of adolescence and puberty are often treated as one, the existence of two distinct terms points to different kinds of maturation in humans. Puberty refers to a period of coordinated somatic growth and reproductive maturation that shifts individuals from nonreproductive juvenility to reproductive maturity. Adolescence includes the behavioral and social assumption of adult roles. Life history theory offers powerful tools for understanding why puberty occurs later in humans than in other primates, including the benefits of delayed reproduction as part of a cooperation-intensive life history strategy. It also sheds light on the ways that pubertal timing responds to environmental variation. I review the mechanisms of maturation in humans and propose biocultural approaches to integrate life historical understandings of puberty with a broader definition of environment to encompass the concept of adolescence.

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Revisiting the concept of Beverton–Holt life-history invariants with the aim of informing data-poor fisheries assessment

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fsu011 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 72 (1) ◽

pp. 194-203 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

Jeremy Prince ◽

Adrian Hordyk ◽

Sarah R. Valencia ◽

Neil Loneragan ◽

Keith Sainsbury

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Reproductive Potential ◽

Life History Strategy ◽

Marine Species ◽

Small Scale ◽

Implicit Assumption ◽

Fish Stocks ◽

Assessment Techniques ◽

The Relationship

Abstract The complexity and cost of assessment techniques prohibits their application to 90% of fisheries. Simple generic approaches are needed for the world's small-scale and data-poor fisheries. This meta-analysis of the relationship between spawning potential and the normalized size and age of 123 marine species suggests that the so-called Beverton–Holt life-history invariants (BH-LHI; Lm/L∞, M/k, M × Agem) actually vary together in relation to life-history strategy, determining the relationship between size, age, and reproductive potential for each species. Although little realized, the common assumption of unique values for the BH-LHI also implies that all species share the same relationship between size, age, and reproductive potential. This implicit assumption is not supported by this meta-analysis, which suggests that there is considerable but predictable natural variation in the BH-LHI ratios and the relationships between size, age, and reproductive potential that they determine. We believe that this reconceptualization of the BH-LHI has potential to provide a theoretical framework for “borrowing” knowledge from well-studied species to apply to related, unstudied species and populations, and when applied together with the assessment technique described by Hordyk et al. (2015b), could make simple forms of size-based assessment possible for many currently unassessable fish stocks.

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