Quantifying Tradeoffs for Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management: Scenario Analysis in the Northeast US Using a Whole-of-System Model

Ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) addresses tradeoffs among sectors to reflect multiple and possible conflicting management objectives, such as fisheries utilization and conservation. Ecosystem models can be used to quantify these tradeoffs associated with alternative management strategies. We used Atlantis-NEUS, a whole-of-system model for the Northeast US continental shelf marine ecosystem, to evaluate the performance of a set of management scenarios, each of which emphasizes a particular overall management goal. These scenarios included: (1) “Business as usual”, reflecting current management; (2) a “Fisheries First” focus aimed to optimize yield through single-species management tools; (3) “Conservation”, where management is focused on conserving biodiversity and minimizing fishery effects on protected species; (4) “Spatial Management”, where the focus is on human uses of the system besides fishing; and (5) “Ecosystem-Based Management”, which attempts to balance among objectives by employing ecosystem based fishery control rules and other tools aimed at mitigating conflicts. We compare results across a range of ecosystem indicators and performance measures to illustrate the tradeoffs among management objectives. By selecting a portfolio of management tools that attempt to holistically consider ecosystem effects of human activity and multiple stakeholder perspectives, we can maximize performance across an overall set of objectives.