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A significant new fisheries paper out in Science magazine may be of interest to Fishdarshan members
ReplyDeleteAfter quite a lot of friction between some top fisheries scientists and fisheries ecologists over 2 key papers (Myers and
Worm 2003 - the famous "90% of large predators are gone" Nature 2003 paper;
and Worm et al Science 2006 - the equally famous
- "all commercial fisheries will be gone by 2048"
paper), Boris Worm, Ray Hilborn and others from both the fisheries and
ecologists sides of the discussion have now come together and jointly analysed a large amount of fisheries stock assessment
information (but none from India since it is not publicly available like that from some other countries) and come up with a
more nuanced assessment.
This is a landmark paper not only for its message, which shows some signs of hope for fisheries resources, but also for
bringing together people from quite different scientific backgrounds with a common interest in the future trajectory of
fisheries resources. The different perspectives have been expressed in often quite vehement debates in the scientific
literature over the last several years (see a short summary I presented at the 5th World Fisheries Congress last year, just
as the joint work was beginning -
http://sites.google.com/site/fishwatchasiapacific/fisheries-papers-1)
Here is the link to the new Science paper, and below the abstract the New Scientist story link also.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/325/5940/578
Science 31 July 2009:
Vol. 325. no. 5940, pp. 578 - 585
DOI: 10.1126/science.1173146
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Research Articles
Rebuilding Global Fisheries
Boris Worm,1,* Ray Hilborn,2,* Julia K. Baum,3 Trevor A. Branch,2 Jeremy S. Collie,4 Christopher Costello,5 Michael J.
Fogarty,6 Elizabeth A. Fulton,7 Jeffrey A. Hutchings,1 Simon Jennings,8,9 Olaf P. Jensen,2 Heike K. Lotze,1 Pamela M. Mace,10
Tim R. McClanahan,11 Cóilín Minto,1 Stephen R. Palumbi,12 Ana M. Parma,13 Daniel Ricard,1 Andrew A. Rosenberg,14 Reg
Watson,15 Dirk Zeller15
After a long history of overexploitation, increasing efforts to restore marine ecosystems and rebuild fisheries are under
way. Here, we analyze current trends from a fisheries and conservation perspective. In 5 of 10 well-studied ecosystems, the
average exploitation rate has recently declined and is now at or below the rate predicted to achieve maximum sustainable
yield for seven systems. Yet 63% of assessed fish stocks worldwide still require rebuilding, and even lower exploitation
rates are needed to reverse the collapse of vulnerable species. Combined fisheries and conservation objectives can be
achieved by merging diverse management actions, including catch restrictions, gear modification, and closed areas, depending
on local context. Impacts of international fleets and the lack of alternatives to fishing complicate prospects for rebuilding
fisheries in many poorer regions, highlighting the need for a global perspective on rebuilding marine resources.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17539-tide-may-be-turning-for-overexploited-fish-stocks.html