Fisheries catch is determined by a complex combination of biological and industrial factors. In this study, using data from the online database Sea Around Us from 1950 to 2018, the risk of fisheries collapse was assessed for the three large marine ecosystems (LMEs) around China by analyzing the carbon transfer efficiency, mean trophic level, and mean maximum length of fisheries catch and expansion factor. In addition, these were compared with the corresponding values for other LMEs, especially the Humboldt Current and the North Sea LMEs, which experienced fisheries collapse.Our results revealed high carbon transfer efficiencies in LMEs around China, suggesting large fishing efforts compared with LMEs with similar primary production. Although marine fish landings did not decline significantly, they were maintained by potential resources associated with offshore and deep expansion and fishing of lower–trophic-level species and juvenile fish. However, the potential resources have been largely consumed in the East China Sea and South China Sea LMEs, where the ratio of the primary production required to sustain catches to the total primary production (%PPR) was greater than 50%. In contrast, this ratio in the Yellow Sea LME was lower; however, this value was still higher than the sustainable ratio in the Humboldt Current LME. Without proper fisheries management, the three fisheries around China are likely to collapse, as observed in case of the North Sea LME in the 1970s.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.