Ecosystem-approach to fisheries management takes center stage

World-renowned scientists gathered last week to identify the science requirements to support ecosystem-based approaches to marine resource management in the U.S. Pacific Islands.

The workshop, held from April 18 to 22 in Honolulu, gathered together several great talents in one room, according to director Sam Pooley of the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, who chaired the workshop.

Kitty M. Simonds, executive director of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, said one of the tasks of the workshop was to identify the most effective ecosystem-based approach to marine resource management that could be implemented based on current data and determine what new data or models would be required to advance ecosystem approaches in the long-term.

The expert panel in the workshop included Jerry Ault from University of Miami, Carl Waters and Villy Christensen from University of British Columbia, Neil Gribble from Queensland Department of Primary Industry, Dave Fluharty from University of Washington, Steve Murawski and Mike Fogarty from National Marine Fisheries Service.

According to a news release, invited guests came all the way from New Caledonia, Micronesia, and Canada. They joined the local and national fisheries scientists, fisheries and sanctuary managers, and non-government environmental organization representatives to identify key issues pertaining to data, model and ecosystem indicators.

The council began developing the nation’s first ecosystem-based fishery-management plan in 1995 and is now in the process of converting its existing single-species based fishery management plans into archipelagic-based fishery ecosystem plans for Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam and Northern Mariana Islands.

The council said they were very satisfied with the event, which was last held 20 years ago. NMFS convened the first ecosystem workshop with the nation’s eight regional fishery management councils and produced the NMFS Program Development Plan for ecosystems monitoring and fisheries management.

NMFS published its document on ecosystem principles to fisheries management in 1995. The council said President Bush’s Ocean Action Plan called last year for the application of science for ecosystem-based management of ocean resources.

The final workshop report will be completed in July. For more information on this, contact the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council at info.wpcouncil@noaa.gov.