Ecosystem-Based Management
Recommendations of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy
The current fishery management regime’s emphasis on local participation, coupling of science and management, and regional flexibility is laudable. Nevertheless, the last 30 years have witnessed overexploitation of many fish stocks, degradation of habitats, and negative consequences for too many ecosystems and fishing communities. To ensure the long-term sustainability of U.S. fisheries, maximize social and economic benefits, and reinforce the principle that living marine resources are held in public trust for the benefit of all U.S. citizens, fishery management must be improved. Specific reforms can produce some immediate improvements. These include increasing the role of science by separating allocation and…
