P a R T V Report of the Working Group on Fisheries Management, Implications and Interactions

Variability is an inherent characteristic of neritic fisheries. This is usually associated with both heavy fishing and changes in environmental conditions. Consideration needs to be given to the biological, physical and human components of the management system. This includes controlling the type, size and amount of fish harvested; trying to respond in a timely manner to events in the fishery imposed by climatic processes; and taking into account economical, social and political considerations. Main users of the resources, their objectives and potential for conflict are identified. Management should be prescriptive and preventive rather than reactive. Three broad-scale fishery strategies to exploit variable resources are suggested: a fluctuating fishery, an opportunistic or migrating fishery, and a diversified fishery. Fishery activities should be regulated to tighten protection at low levels of abundance and allow fishing to expand when fish abundance increases in order to maximise gains in periods of great abundance and minimise losses during periods of low abundance.