Multi-scale ecology and multi-scale management of river herring

Effective fisheries management requires alignment between the spatial scales of life history events and of management authorities.  Life histories spanning multiple scales may require multiple management entities operating in coordination, or nested levels of management within a single over-arching authority.  At large scales, some management jurisdiction must encompass the full extent of an ecologically and demographically significant stock, population or metapopulation.  It is equally important that some management structures have a focus with sufficient resolution to match life stages operating at finer spatial scales. River herring present an especially complex management challenge given that their life history spans a wide range of scales and associated management jurisdictions.  I define four primary scales at which life history stages of river herring occur, and examine U.S. management structures within that framework.  Existing management of river herring fisheries generally matches two of these scales well, with state and inter-state authorities regulating harvest.  However, at the largest spatial scales, management in federal waters and international cooperation is absent.  Also, at the smallest scales, harvest management is generally lacking, with Maine being a notable exception.  Strategies to manage at missing scales and to better coordinate among scales are discussed.