Impacts of fishing low-trophic level species on marine ecosystems
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 10:40authored bySmith, ADM, Brown, CJ, Bulman, CM, Elizabeth FultonElizabeth Fulton, Johnson, P, Kaplan, IC, Lozano-Montes, H, Mackinson, S, Marzloff, M, Shannon, LJ, Shin, YJ, Tam, J
Low–trophic level species account for more than 30% of global fisheries production and contribute substantially to global food security. We used a range of ecosystem models to explore the effects of fishing low–trophic level species on marine ecosystems, including marine mammals and seabirds, and on other commercially important species. In five well-studied ecosystems, we found that fishing these species at conventional maximum sustainable yield (MSY) levels can have large impacts on other parts of the ecosystem, particularly when they constitute a high proportion of the biomass in the ecosystem or are highly connected in the food web. Halving exploitation rates would result in much lower impacts on marine ecosystems while still achieving 80% of MSY.
History
Publication title
Science
Volume
333
Issue
6046
Pagination
1147-1150
ISSN
0036-8075
Department/School
Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies
Publisher
Amer Assoc Advancement Science
Place of publication
1200 New York Ave, Nw, Washington, USA, Dc, 20005
Rights statement
Copyright American Association for the Advancement of Science
Repository Status
Restricted
Socio-economic Objectives
Assessment and management of terrestrial ecosystems