Revealing the Effectiveness of Fisheries Policy: A Biological Observation of Species Johnius belengerii in Xiamen Bay

Abstract

The rapid development of China’s economy has brought tremendous pressure to the marine ecosystem, and about 57% of marine fish populations have been overexploited or collapsed. A series of fisheries policies have been implemented successively to improve the decline of resources. Over the past decade, the fisheries sector has particularly increased focus on resource and ecosystem sustainability, which has led to the wider use of stock management policies in China. Therefore, fishery resource assessment is crucial, such as assessing the long-term changes in biological information. This study is based on biological characteristics of Johnius belengerii captured by bottom trawls in Xiamen Bay during two periods, beginning in 2006 and 2016. Length composition, length–weight relationship, growth, mortality, sexual maturation, and feeding intensity were analyzed. The changes in biological characteristics show that there is a phenomenon of improvement in the later period, of which the changes are closely related to a series of fisheries management strategies, such as setting closed fishing periods and non-fishing areas, and establishing fishery restoration marine protected areas. This result seems to reveal the effectiveness of a long-term series of fisheries policies. It can provide an important basis and visibility for management effectiveness.