Abstract

An ecosystem-based approach is being developed for the management of groundfish fisheries in the North Pacific Ocean off Alaska, USA. The approach involves public participation, reliance on scientific research and advice, conservative catch quotas, comprehensive monitoring and enforcement, by-catch controls, gear restrictions, temporal and spatial distribution of fisheries, habitat conservation areas, and other biological and socioeconomic considerations. The basic ecosystem consideration employed is a precautionary approach to extraction of fish resources. Off Alaska, all groundfish stocks are considered healthy, while providing sustained yields of about 2 million tonnes annually. Management measures are also taken to minimize potential impacts of fishing on seafloor habitat and other ecosystem components such as marine mammals and seabirds.

Keywords

GroundfishFishingFisheryFisheries managementEcosystemHabitatEnvironmental resource managementEcosystem servicesEnvironmental scienceGeographyEcology

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Publication Info

Year
2000
Type
article
Volume
57
Issue
3
Pages
771-777
Citations
145
Access
Closed

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Cite This

David Witherell, Clarence Pautzke, David Fluharty (2000). An ecosystem-based approach for Alaska groundfish fisheries. ICES Journal of Marine Science , 57 (3) , 771-777. https://doi.org/10.1006/jmsc.2000.0719

Identifiers

DOI
10.1006/jmsc.2000.0719