Options for integrating ecological, economic, and social objectives in evaluation and management of fisheries

• Published in: Fish and fisheries (Oxford, England) Vol. 19; no. 1; pp. 40 - 56
• Main Authors: Benson, Ashleen J., Stephenson, Robert L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-01-2018
• Subjects: decision support; Ecology; Economics; Ecosystem approach to fisheries; Evaluation; Fisheries; Fisheries management; Governance; holistic methods; integrated management; interdisciplinary; Methods; Sustainable development
• ISSN: 1467-2960; 1467-2979
• DOI: 10.1111/faf.12235

There has been growing international attention in recent years to the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries, Ecologically Sustainable Development, and similar initiatives that demand a comprehensive evaluation of the social, economic, and ecological performance of fisheries. However, the practical integration and application of these aspects continue to present a significant challenge for management. Progress to date has been limited by gaps in governance, objectives, disciplinary breadth, and methods. In this study, we develop an inventory of the methods that have been proposed to be able to incorporate ecological, economic, and social objectives and to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of fisheries and management. Our inventory includes both a description of the range of methods, and an evaluation against a set of criteria related to their utility in an applied, decision support context.