How Can Fishery Ecosystem Plans Add Value to Fishery Management?

The need and justification for EBFM is widely recognized. Regional councils have the authority to implement EBFM in their respective regions and a mandate to protect the marine environment. Further, the transition to EBFM will be an evolutionary process that builds upon successful single-species approaches to help ensure healthy ocean ecosystems. An FEP should outline a particular council’s plan for implementing EBFM and achieving its goals for ecosystem health. Different regions will have different management needs, and an FEP should be tailored to fit the region. However, one concept that should remain constant across FEPs is a focus on maintaining healthy, productive and resilient ecosystems able to support the achievement of optimum yield. Achieving optimum yield is the goal of U.S. fishery management, and identification and evaluation of relevant social, economic and ecological factors necessary to the determination optimum yield is required by the Magnuson Stevens Act. Ultimately, an FEP should provide a forum and the decision-support tools necessary to meet this requirement through an open and transparent process that engages the public and establishes a science-based plan for managing fisheries with an ecosystem-based approach. In doing so, FEPs can add value to the Council decision-making process.