The Necessity of Law Enforcement in the Development of Sustainable Fisheries

Sustainable management of fisheries resources requires strong relationships between fishery managers – those who set the regulations – and law enforcement officers – those who enforce the regulations. Regulations that are designed to ensure sustainable harvest of the fisheries and promote long-term health of the ecosystem are only useful if they are effectively enforced. In the Laurentian Great Lakes region, the Great Lakes Law Enforcement Committee, established through A Joint Strategic Plan for Management of Great Lakes Fisheries, serves as a conduit for the transfer of information between fisheries managers and law enforcement agencies and provides recommendations to senior-level managers about the development and implementation of management policies, cooperative procedures, and enforceable regulations. The release and potential invasion of Asian carp into the Great Lakes showcases the strengths and weaknesses of this relationship. To further demonstrate the necessity of strong relationships between fisheries managers and enforcement entities, the co-managed, multi-jurisdictional fishery on Lake Victoria, Africa is briefly examined. Enforcement on Lake Victoria is complicated further as the alleviation of poverty is as important as the sustainability of the resource. To this end, enforcement entities, resource managers, and the community must work together to develop effective regulations and fishing practices.