Ecosystem Effects of Fishing

Transcription

1

2 and Scope Ecosystem Effects of Fishing Objectives The wider effects of fisheries on marine ecosystems have become the focus of growing interest over the past decade. Fisheries management is no longer only a question of maximizing the yield of commercially exploited resources. It has become important to consider the direct and indirect impacts of fishing on other components of the system (benthos, non-commercial fish species, seabirds, and marine mammals) in the overall management strategy. The aim of this ICES/SCOR Symposium is to provide a global synthesis of the impacts of fishing on the marine ecosystem, to report on new methods for quantifying these impacts at the ecosystem level, and to provide a forum for discussion of how objectives related to nature conservation can be integrated in future fisheries management. The Symposium will be hosted by ORSTOM in Montpellier, France. Topics Invited Papers Ecosystem synthesis Three different themes will be covered by invited contributions: 1. Quantification of fisheries impacts on ecosystems The first theme will provide a global overview of the effects of fishing on different marine ecosystems and on specific species groups. The focus will be on differences and similarities in the responses in various parts of the world. The ecosystems covered will include coastal and estuarine systems, semi-enclosed seas, continental shelves, upwelling systems, boreal ecosystems, the deep seas, and the Antarctic. Species groups will include benthos, demersal fish, large pelagics, sharks and rays, seabirds, marine mammals, and turtles. Evidence for cascading effects on primary production and zooplankton will also be reviewed. 2. The second theme will present methods for quantifying fisheries impacts at the species and ecosystem levels. How can overfishing be defined in an ecosystem perspective? At the species level, the quantification of species vulnerability to fishing, the loss of genetic diversity, and the risks of species extinction will be discussed. At the community or ecosystem level, the usefulness of trophodynamic models, multispecies models, and indices of community structure will be summarized. Experience in the use of sustainability indicators and measures of ecosystem "health" for monitoring marine and freshwater environments will be reviewed. 3. Integrating fisheries and environmental management The third theme will focus on developing an integrated approach to fisheries and environmental management. The elaboration of ecosystem management objectives will necessitate a selection of indices of ecosystem change, which are perceived to be scientifically sound, important to society, and operational in a management context. After a short review of management objectives and expectations from the respective points of view of representatives of the fishing industry, NGOs, and fisheries and environmental managers, a framework for designing operational ecosystem management strategies will be presented. This will be followed by a description of some of the legal, economic, and technical tools that might be used to achieve objectives. What role do gear modifications and marine protected areas play in the overall strategy? What is the current experience with integrating environmental and fisheries objectives? Examples will be given of the approaches developed within ICES, CCAMLR, US fisheries management, Philippine coastal zone management, and Australian multiple-use management. Future trends and constraints in the development of an integrated approach to fisheries management will be outlined. Posters level Integration management considerations in fisheries fisheries effects at the ecosystem of environmental Methods for quantifying Case studies of fisheries impacts on different ecosystems Posters will constitute an important part of the Symposium. Contributions of posters are encouraged in, but not limited to, the following research areas: The posters will be displayed daily throughout the Symposium and should be ready for presentation on the opening day. Provision will also be made for possible Web access to posters in advance of the meeting. Those willing to contribute posters should submit provisional titles and abstracts of 250 words or less to Professor Henrik Gislason by 15 October They will subsequently receive instructions regarding the poster format. On the basis of the abstracts submitted, the Scientific Steering Committee will select a limited number of posters to be developed as papers for publication in the proceedings. Those who wish to have their contributions considered for inclusion in the proceedings volume should indicate this when they submit provisional titles and abstracts. Structure The Symposium will be convened for four full days. Invited papers will be presented in non-overlapping thematic sessions, and posters will be displayed throughout the 'meeting. On the last day, a session will be devoted to summarizing the major themes and conclusions ofthe Symposium. Written work may be presented in English or French, but the meeting itself will be conducted in English. Publication The papers presented orally at the Symposium and a limited number of papers based on poster presentations will be considered for publication, following peer review, in a special issue of the ICES Journal of Marine Science, produced by Academic Press. Final titles and abstracts will be due by 15 January Copies of the proceedings volume will be sent to Symposium participants. Date and Venue will be sent to those who The Symposium will be held from 16 to 19 March 1999 at the Corum Cenference Centre in Montpellier, France. Montpellier, the capital of the Languedoc-Roussillon region, is close to the Mediterranean, the Cevennes Mountains, and the Camargue. A renowned university town, it is noted for its academic environment. Montpellier is well served by rail and international air transport. Information on hotel accommodation register for the Symposium. Participation The Symposium is open to scientists and managers with an interest in ecosystem effects of fishing. Those who may wish to attend the Symposium or to contribute posters are invited to complete the attached pre-registration form and return it, with abstracts if appropriate, to Professor Henrik Gislason by 15 October Whenever possible, abstracts should also be sent by (hg@dfu.min.dk). Prospective participants will receive further details and announcements with final registration forms and guidelines. The final registration form should be returned by 15 January 1999 together with a registration fee of US $ ($75.00 for students). The registration fee will cover the cost of the Symposium proceedings and the Symposium Dinner.

3 PRE-REGISTRATION Ecosystem Montpellier, France March 1999 FORM Effects of Fishing I am interested in attending the Symposium and would like to receive further announcements. I would like to contribute: poster(s). Provisional title(s) _ Mark poster titles for which you would like to submit a paper for inclusion in the Symposium proceedings with an asterisk (*) Name Address Telephone _ Fax

4 r 1\ Scientific Steering Committee Co-Conveners Dr Michael M. Sinclair Bedford Institute of Oceanography PO Box 1006 Dartmouth, N. S., Canada B2Y 4A2 Tel: Fax: E mail: SinclairM@mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca Professor Henrik Gislason University of Copenhagen c/o Danish Institute for Fisheries Research Charlottenlund Castle DK-2920 Charlottenlund, Denmark Tel: Fax: hg@dfu.min.dk Professor John G. Pope NRC (Europe) Ltd The Old Rectory Burgh St Peter Norfolk NR34 OBT, England United Kingdom popejg@aol.com Professor Stephen J. Hall School of Biological Sciences Flinders University of South Australia GPO Box 2100 Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia stephen.hall@f1inders.edu.au Mr John Valdemarsen Fishing Technology Service, Fishery Industry Division Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Viale delle Terme di Caracalla Rome, Italy John.Valdemarsen@fao.org Dates will please contact the For administrative ICES Secretariat Web Site purposes, Professor Brian J. Rothschild University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Center for Marine Science and Technology 706 South Rodney French Boulevard New Bedford, Massachusetts , USA brothschild@umassd.edu General Secretary ICES Paleegade 2-4 DK-1261 Copenhagen K, Denmark Tel ; Fax ices.info@ices.dk Important 15 October January 1999 Pre-registration form Provisional abstracts Final registration form and fee Final abstracts The programme, final abstracts, and other information be included and continually updated. Symposium Dr Philippe Cury ORSTOM Research Associate Sea Fisheries Research Institute Private Bag X2 Rogge Bay 8012, Cape Town, South Africa pcury@sfri.wcape.gov.za Dr Gabriella Bianchi Institute of Marine Research PO Box 1870 Nordnes N-5024 Bergen, Norway gabri@imr.no Dr Keith Sainsbury CSIRO GPO Box 1538 Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia Keith.Sainsbury@marine.csiro.au Dr Daniel Pauly Fisheries Centre 2204 Main Mall University of British Columbia Vancouver, B. c., Canada V6T 1Z4 pauly@fisheries.com

5