A perspective on the use of spatialized indicators for ecosystem-based fishery management through spatial zoning

Abstract

AbstractAlthough much work has been done developing system-level indicators for ecosystem-based fishery management (EBFM), few of those proposed include a spatial component. Even in single-species management, time and area closures have been applied without a clear understanding of what their effect might be on identifying overfishing thresholds and other reference points. For EBFM, spatial zoning of the marine environment, including no-take marine reserves and areas where destructive fishing gears are prohibited, may become a prime management tool. Therefore, indicators of the effectiveness of spatial management will be required, along with an understanding of how indicators related to other objectives will be influenced. We review single-species models that have been used to model spatial zoning, including potential bias in assessment and current work on effort reallocation after area closure, as well as available ecosystem-based models and metrics and how they might account for spatial management. Metrics that can be derived from explicitly spatial approaches such as GIS-based ecosystem and fishery evaluations are also discussed.