The Role of Stocking in Enhancing Fisheries

Stocking can contribute to the enhancement – or deterioration - of fisheries through diverse mechanisms including: direct effects of the released fish on population dynamics, genetics or ecosystem attributes; impacts on fisher behavior or satisfaction; and incentives to adopt or avert beneficial changes in management or governance. It is therefore important to pay attention to this broad set of potential impact pathways when developing or reforming stocking program. This requires a systems approach, supported by rigorous quantitative and qualitative assessments at different levels. Here I review three key aspects of such assessments: (1) Design criteria for biological-technical attributes of enhancement systems (hatchery production, stocking and fishing practices) serving different purposes including ranching, stock enhancement, restocking, and conservation of threatened populations.  (2) Population dynamics theory and quantitative assessment methods for evaluating the contribution of stocking to fisheries management goals in ranching, stock enhancement and restocking programs. (3) The role of governance systems in promoting positive or detrimental fisheries management outcomes of stocking. I close by setting out principles and implementation strategies for the recently updated, ‘Responsible Approach’ to the development and reform of fish stocking programs.