Harvest control rules in modern fisheries management

Abstract This study examines Japanese offshore fisheries management by focusing on the possibilities and challenges in implementing co-management of fisheries. Offshore fisheries, characterized by a lack of clear geographical boundaries in fishing grounds and community boundaries in fishery participants, face different challenges than coastal fisheries that are managed by territorial use rights and fisheries cooperative associations. This study examines the current policy and legal framework in offshore fisheries management in Japan and uses a case study of the tiger puffer fishery in Ise–Mikawa Bay to investigate interactions among multiple fishing entities as well as interactions between resource harvesters and managers. We argue that increased participation of both national and prefectural governments in fisheries management contributes to strengthen co-management: yet, a lack of science-based harvest control rules hinders the biological and economic benefits from accruing to the fishery.

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Leveraging scientific uncertainty in fisheries management for estimating among-assessment variation in overfishing limits

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fsz237 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 77 (2) ◽

pp. 515-526

Author(s):

Kristin M Privitera-Johnson ◽

André E Punt

Keyword(s):

Fisheries Management ◽

Previous Analysis ◽

Risk Tolerance ◽

Scientific Uncertainty ◽

New Approach ◽

Control Rules ◽

Stock Recruitment ◽

Us West ◽

Spawning Biomass ◽

Harvest Control Rules

Abstract Fisheries management systems can utilize probability-based harvest control rules to incorporate scientific uncertainty and manager risk tolerance when setting catch limits. A precautionary buffer that scales with scientific uncertainty is used to calculate the acceptable biological catch from the overfishing limit (OFL) for US West Coast groundfish and coastal pelagic species. A previous analysis formed the basis for estimating scientific uncertainty as the among-assessment variation in estimates of historical spawning biomass time-series. This “historical biomass” approach may underestimate scientific uncertainty, because the OFL is a function of estimated exploitable biomass and fishing mortality. We developed a new approach that bases the calculation of scientific uncertainty on projected spawning biomass (SSB) and OFLs, accounting for uncertainty in recruitment and among-assessment variation. OFL projections yielded a higher estimate of uncertainty than SSB (0.502 vs. 0.413 for 25-year projections and 0.562 vs. 0.384 for a 1-year projection, assuming a deterministic stock-recruitment relationship). Assuming a stochastic stock-recruitment relationship produced smaller estimates of uncertainty (0.436, 25-year OFL projections; 0.452, 1-year OFL projections; 0.360, 25-year SSB projections; 0.318, 1-year SSB projections). The projection-based approach presented herein is applicable across stocks and regions that conduct assessments with sufficient and consistent outputs for calculating an OFL.

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Implementing the precautionary approach into fisheries management: Making the case for probability-based harvest control rules

10.1101/2020.11.06.369785 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Tobias K. Mildenberger ◽

Casper W. Berg ◽

Alexandros Kokkalis ◽

Adrian R. Hordyk ◽

Chantel Wetzel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fisheries Management ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Reference Points ◽

Production Model ◽

Scientific Uncertainty ◽

Precautionary Approach ◽

Control Rules ◽

Stock Biomass ◽

Harvest Control Rules

AbstractThe precautionary approach to fisheries management advocates for risk-averse management strategies that include biological reference points as well as decision rules and account for scientific uncertainty. In this regard, two approaches have been recommended: (i) harvest control rules (HCRs) with threshold reference points to safeguard against low stock biomass, and (ii) the P* method, a ‘probability-based HCR’ that reduces the catch limit as a function of scientific uncertainty (i.e. process, model, and observation uncertainty). This study compares the effectiveness of these precautionary approaches in recovering over-exploited fish stocks with various life-history traits and under a wide range of levels of scientific uncertainty. We use management strategy evaluation based on a stochastic, age-based operating model with quarterly time steps and a stochastic surplus production model. The results show that the most effective HCR includes both a biomass threshold as well as the P* method, and leads to high and stable long-term yield with a decreased risk of low stock biomass. For highly dynamics stocks, management strategies that aim for higher biomass targets than the traditionally used BMSY result in higher long-term yield. This study makes the case for probability-based HCRs by demonstrating their benefit over deterministic HCRs and provides a list of recommendations regarding their definition and implementation.

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Evaluating deepwater fisheries management strategies using a mixed-fisheries and spatially explicit modelling framework

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fst073 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 70 (4) ◽

pp. 768-781 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Paul Marchal ◽

Youen Vermard

Keyword(s):

Fisheries Management ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Spatially Explicit ◽

Catch Per Unit Effort ◽

Modelling Framework ◽

Control Rules ◽

Bioeconomic Modelling ◽

Stock Assessments ◽

Fleet Dynamics

Abstract Marchal, P., and Vermard, Y. 2013. Evaluating deepwater fisheries management strategies using a mixed-fisheries and spatially explicit modelling framework. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 70: 768–781. We have used in this study a spatially explicit bioeconomic modelling framework to evaluate management strategies, building in both data-rich and data-limited harvest control rules (HCRs), for a mix of deepwater fleets and species, on which information is variable. The main focus was on blue ling (Molva dypterygia). For that species, both data-rich and data-limited HCRs were tested, while catch per unit effort (CPUE) was used either to tune stock assessments, or to directly trigger management action. There were only limited differences between the performances of both HCRs when blue ling biomass was initialized at the current level, but blue ling recovered more quickly with the data-rich HCR when its initial biomass was severely depleted. Both types of HCR lead, on average, to a long-term recovery of both blue ling and saithe (Pollachius virens) stocks, and some increase in overall profit. However, that improvement is not sufficient to guarantee sustainable exploitation with a high probability. Blue ling CPUE did not always adequately reflect trends in biomass, which mainly resulted from fleet dynamics, possibly in combination with density-dependence. The stock dynamics of roundnose grenadier (Coryphaenoides rupestris), black scabbardfish (Aphanopus carbo) and deepwater sharks (Centrophorus squamosus and Centroscymnus coelolepis) were little affected by the type of HCR chosen to manage blue ling.

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Harvest Control Rules

Fish Population Dynamics, Monitoring, and Management - Fisheries Science Series ◽

10.1007/978-4-431-56621-2_11 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 183-206 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Seiji Ohshimo ◽

Takashi Yamakawa

Keyword(s):

Control Rules ◽

Harvest Control Rules

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Institutional designs to face the dark side of total allowable catches

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fsm060 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 64 (4) ◽

pp. 851-857 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ikerne del Valle ◽

Kepa Astorkiza

Keyword(s):

Dark Side ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Control Rules ◽

Opportunistic Behaviour ◽

Self Interest ◽

Conflicting Interests ◽

Endogenous Process ◽

Harvest Control Rules ◽

Stock Abundance

Abstract del Valle, I., and Astorkiza, K. 2007. Institutional designs to face the dark side of total allowable catches. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 64: 851–857. Setting total allowable catches (TACs) is an endogenous process in which different agents and institutions, often with conflicting interests and opportunistic behaviour, try to influence policy-makers. Far from being the benevolent social planners many would wish them to be, these policy-makers may also pursue self-interest when making final decisions. Although restricted knowledge of stock abundance and population dynamics, and weakness in enforcement, have effects, these other factors may explain why TAC management has failed to guarantee sustainable exploitation of fish resources. Rejecting the exogeneity of the TAC and taking advantage of fruitful debate on economic policy (i.e. the rules vs. discretion debate, and that surrounding the independence of central banks), two institutional developments are analysed as potential mechanisms to face up to misconceptions about TACs: long-term harvest control rules and a central bank of fish.

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Substituting model-based indicators in Harvest Control Rules by observations using fuzzy logic methodology

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fsx227 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 75 (3) ◽

pp. 977-987

Author(s):

Arne Eide

Keyword(s):

Fuzzy Logic ◽

Mathematical Models ◽

Stock Assessment ◽

Decision Rules ◽

Initial Information ◽

Stock Size ◽

Control Rules ◽

Stock Biomass ◽

Size Evaluation ◽

Harvest Control Rules

Abstract Harvest Control Rules are predefined heuristic decision rules to provide quota advices for managed fisheries. Frequently statistical methods and biological assumptions expressed in mathematical models, are used to provide the Harvest Control Rules with initial information (indicators values). The aim of this article is to investigate a possible way forward of replacing these inputs by quantities of measurable observations, e.g. catch-at-age statistics. The article presents a method by which recruitment indexes and stock biomass indicators are obtained by non-parametric use of annual catch-at-age records, without filtering the raw data (observations) through mathematical models. Two related methods, applied on three empirical cases, are provided: First, showing that recruitment strengths of the Northeast Arctic cod, haddock, and saithe stocks, obtained by fuzzy logic methodology, are satisfactory captures by the use of catch-at-age data. Second, stock size indicators are estimated for the three species by the same catch-at-age data. The second task turns out to be more challenging than the first, but also in the case of stock size evaluation, the suggested procedure provides reasonable results when compared to standard stock assessment methods.

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Developing and evaluating harvest control rules with different biological reference points for the American lobster (Homarus americanus) fishery in the Gulf of Maine

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fsr071 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 68 (7) ◽

pp. 1511-1524 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Yuying Zhang ◽

Yong Chen ◽

Carl Wilson

Keyword(s):

Gulf Of Maine ◽

Homarus Americanus ◽

The United States ◽

Reference Points ◽

Systematic Evaluation ◽

American Lobster ◽

Natural Mortality ◽

Control Rules ◽

The Status ◽

Harvest Control Rules

Abstract Zhang, Y., Chen, Y., and Wilson, C. 2011. Developing and evaluating harvest control rules with different biological reference points for the American lobster (Homarus americanus) fishery in the Gulf of Maine. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 1511–1524. The American lobster (Homarus americanus) supports one of the most valuable commercial fisheries in the United States. Controversy exists, however, in terms of the biological reference point (BRP) used in assessing lobster stock status, and there is no fully established or evaluated harvest control rule (HCR). A sex-specific, size-dependent operating model is developed to evaluate the performance of two HCRs, discrete and continuous, which adjust annual fishing mortality discretely and linearly, respectively, based on the status of the fishery. For each HCR, different BRPs are considered along with management duration, recruitment dynamics, and natural mortality. HCRs with a suitable set of BRPs can drive the fishery from an undesirable status to an optimal status. The continuous HCR tends to perform better than the discrete one. The Ftarget of 0.31 year−1 showed the best performance in the long term by balancing the needs of the fishing industry and conservation bodies. However, this was not the case in the short term. An Ntarget of 49.6 million would allow the American lobster to be maintained at its current stock level, with high recruitment and stable natural mortality. The study provides a framework for a systematic evaluation of management regulations for the American lobster.

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Harvest control rules in the context of fishery-independent management of fish stocks

Aquatic Living Resources ◽

10.1051/alr/2009022 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 217-224 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Panayiota Apostolaki ◽

Richard Hillary

Keyword(s):

Fish Stocks ◽

Control Rules ◽

Harvest Control Rules

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Assessing the sensitivity of data-limited methods (DLMs) to the estimation of life-history parameters from length–frequency data

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/cjfas-2017-0325 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 75 (10) ◽

pp. 1563-1572 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Ming Sun ◽

Chongliang Zhang ◽

Yong Chen ◽

Binduo Xu ◽

Ying Xue ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Stock Assessment ◽

Stock Management ◽

Larimichthys Polyactis ◽

Life History Parameters ◽

Control Rules ◽

Strategy Evaluation ◽

Management Procedures ◽

Spawning Potential Ratio ◽

Harvest Control Rules

Data-limited methods (DLMs) in stock assessment may provide potential critical information for data-limited stock management. However, the sensitivity of those methods to life-history parameters is largely unknown, resulting in extra uncertainty and consequent risks. In the present study, we designed six parallel workflows (WFs) to incorporate classic and state-of-the-art methods of estimating life-history parameters and examined their influences on the assessment of small yellow croaker (Larimichthys polyactis) in Haizhou Bay, China. The sensitivity was evaluated with three objectives: (i) the evaluation of stock status with the spawning potential ratio following different assumptions; (ii) the length-based harvest control rules derived from three management procedures; and (iii) the management performance of these harvest control rules with simulation of management strategy evaluation. The results showed considerable sensitivity regarding the three objectives to the estimations with different WFs, indicating the previous practice of credulously accepting empirical values and indiscriminately selecting references are inadvisable. We also identified the most appropriate WFs used for different purposes with limited data, aiming to provide more reliable inputs for effective fisheries management.

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