Management effectiveness of the world's marine fisheries

Ongoing declines in production of the world's fisheries may have serious ecological and socioeconomic consequences. As a result, a number of international efforts have sought to improve management and prevent overexploitation, while helping to maintain biodiversity and a sustainable food supply...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	PLoS biology 2009-06, Vol.7 (6), p.e1000131-e1000131
Main Authors:	Mora, Camilo, Myers, Ransom A, Coll, Marta, Libralato, Simone, Pitcher, Tony J, Sumaila, Rashid U, Zeller, Dirk, Watson, Reg, Gaston, Kevin J, Worm, Boris
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Animals Biodiversity Conservation of Natural Resources Cost-Benefit Analysis Data Collection Ecology Ecology/Conservation and Restoration Ecology Fisheries - economics Fisheries - methods Fisheries - statistics & numerical data Fisheries management Fishes Fishing industry Food Supply International Cooperation Program Evaluation Public Policy Science Policy Studies Sustainability
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Summary:	Ongoing declines in production of the world's fisheries may have serious ecological and socioeconomic consequences. As a result, a number of international efforts have sought to improve management and prevent overexploitation, while helping to maintain biodiversity and a sustainable food supply. Although these initiatives have received broad acceptance, the extent to which corrective measures have been implemented and are effective remains largely unknown. We used a survey approach, validated with empirical data, and enquiries to over 13,000 fisheries experts (of which 1,188 responded) to assess the current effectiveness of fisheries management regimes worldwide; for each of those regimes, we also calculated the probable sustainability of reported catches to determine how management affects fisheries sustainability. Our survey shows that 7% of all coastal states undergo rigorous scientific assessment for the generation of management policies, 1.4% also have a participatory and transparent processes to convert scientific recommendations into policy, and 0.95% also provide for robust mechanisms to ensure the compliance with regulations; none is also free of the effects of excess fishing capacity, subsidies, or access to foreign fishing. A comparison of fisheries management attributes with the sustainability of reported fisheries catches indicated that the conversion of scientific advice into policy, through a participatory and transparent process, is at the core of achieving fisheries sustainability, regardless of other attributes of the fisheries. Our results illustrate the great vulnerability of the world's fisheries and the urgent need to meet well-identified guidelines for sustainable management; they also provide a baseline against which future changes can be quantified.
ISSN:	1545-7885 1544-9173 1545-7885