Sustainable Fisheries Management in Marine Ecosystems

Sustainable fisheries management in marine ecosystems seeks to balance the harvest of wild fish stocks with the conservation of ocean biodiversity, ecosystem functions and the long-term viability of fishing communities. Central to this endeavour is the adoption of ecosystem-based management, which integrates scientific understanding of trophic interactions, habitat requirements and environmental variability to set catch limits that reflect ecological productivity. Complementary tools include spatial planning through marine protected areas (MPAs), adaptive governance frameworks that respond to shifting stock assessments and environmental change, and participatory approaches that engage fishers in compliance and co-management. Effective management also requires robust monitoring of catch per unit effort (CPUE) and by-catch levels, enforcement against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and policies that address the socio-economic dimensions of fisheries, such as equitable access, market incentives for certified seafood and livelihood diversification. Climate-driven changes in species distributions add further complexity, necessitating dynamic management strategies and international cooperation on highly migratory stocks. Ultimately, integrating ecological science with social and economic considerations supports resilient marine ecosystems and fishing communities worldwide.

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Sustainable Fisheries Management in Marine Ecosystems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in sustainable fisheries management in marine ecosystems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Ecosystem-based management: An integrated approach that considers ecological relationships, habitat and environmental variability when setting harvest limits.

Catch per unit effort (CPUE): A metric of fish abundance calculated as the catch divided by the amount of effort expended (e.g. hours trawled).

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing: Fishing activities that contravene national or international laws and undermine sustainable resource management.

Marine protected area (MPA): A designated region of the ocean where human activities are managed to conserve marine biodiversity and habitats.

Small-scale fisheries (SSFs): Low-capital, labour-intensive fisheries that often operate nearshore and support local food security and livelihoods.

References

1. Anticipating trade-offs and promoting synergies between small-scale fisheries and aquaculture to improve social, economic, and ecological outcomes. npj Ocean Sustainability (2024).
2. Management of China's capture fisheries: Review and prospect. Aquaculture and Fisheries (2019).
3. China's policies and practice on combatting IUU in distant water fisheries. Aquaculture and Fisheries (2021).