Freshwater Fisheries Management

Fisheries management draws on fisheries science to formulate rules and regulations that define where, how, and how many fish can be caught each year. The aim is to allow us to harvest as much as possible without destabilizing the delicate marine ecosystem, thus ensuring the availability of fresh-caught fish to future generations. Fisheries managers look at data provided by scientists and use complex models to predict how present fishing efforts will affect the future numbers of various species and distinct genetic populations (“stocks”). If a certain species or stock is identified as being threatened or endangered, fishing may have to be strictly limited or even prohibited in broad areas to allow the fish to recover. Fisheries management is a complex and evolving discipline and much is still being learned about what it involves, what works and what does not. Successful Fisheries Management explores the possibilities for effective and sustainable fisheries management across the globe.