Implementation of Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management in U.S. and International Fisheries: A Comparison with Scientific Recommendations and Conservation Objectives

Ecosystem based management is gaining recognition as an important approach to environmental management. EBFM (Ecosystem Based Fishery Management), an application of EBM to fisheries management, is increasingly considered the ideal approach for the management of fisheries both at a local and global level. The need for not only acceptance of EBFM principles but for its implementation has been recognized by the UN FAO and is incorporated into sustainable seafood assessments produced by NGOs such as the Seafood Watch program of the Monterey Bay Aquarium and eco-certification programs such as the Marine Stewardship Council. Scientific advice for managing fished species with consideration of their role in the foodweb and ecosystem has developed significantly in recent years, particularly for forage species. This paper compares approaches and implementation of EBFM in various fishing nations, to identify best practices among current fisheries management regimes around the world, and compares current practices to the standards found in sustainability assessments and the scientific literature. The findings reveal that a few nations have made progress in consideration of EBFM, but the implementation of management strategies and regulations that take food web interactions into account often fall short of scientific and conservation goals.