A study on indicators and reference points for the ecosystem-based resource assessment

Abstract

Ecosystem-based fisheries management requires a holistic assessment of the status of fisheries by integrating fishery ecosystem indicators for management objectives. In this study four objectives were identified such as the maintenance of the sustainability, biodiversity and habitat quality and socio-economic benefits. The ecosystem-based fisheries assessment (EBFA) model to assess fisheries and their resources at the ecosystem level developed for Korean fisheries (Zhang et al., 2009) has a number of indicators for three management objectives. However, it was found that there were some overlapping components among indicators and that there were difficulties in assessing some indicators in the EBFA model. This study identified problems of the approach and suggested more pragmatic and simpler indicators. It also presented alternative reference points to assess indicators and discussed issues associated with the application of the EBFA model to a marine ranching ecosystem. In this study a total of 24 indicators were used for the assessment which included 4 socio-economic indicators. New indicators and reference points were demonstrated by applying it to the Uljin marine ranch.

An ecosystem-based assessment of the Korean blue crab trammel net fishery in the Yellow Sea and management implications

“…A pragmatic ecosystem-based fisheries assessment approach (EBFA) developed by Zhang et al (2009Zhang et al ( , 2010MOMAF, 2007) was applied to assess the Korean blue crab stock and the blue crab trammel-net fishery in the Yellow Sea. This ecosystem-based fishery assessment approach involves three management objectives:…”

“…Relative weights for each indicator were the same as used by Zhang et al (2009), which were obtained from experts during a series of workshops. Nested risk indices (Table 3), i.e., an objective risk index (ORI), species risk index (SRI), and fishery risk index (FRI), were also estimated to assess the fishery and ecosystem status (MOMAF, 2007;Zhang et al, 2009Zhang et al, , 2010. The ORI was defined as,…”

“…The method involved a comprehensive ecosystem-based assessment of a fishery, including ecological interactions among target species, prey, predators and competitors; interactions with their habitats; and the effects of fishing on these processes (Zhang et al, 2009. This paper reviews the management system for blue crab in the blue crab trammel net fishery in Korean waters of the Yellow Sea, application of the ecosystem-based fishery assessment approach developed by Zhang et al (2009Zhang et al ( , 2010, and evaluation of both the strengths and weaknesses of this approach. To compare management accomplishments in this fishery, assessments were conducted for two time periods: in the year 2000, before adoption of the TAC policy and stock-rebuilding program, and in 2008, after implementation of the policy and program.…”

Ecosystem-based resource assessment on coastal fisheries of Uljin in East Sea of Korea

“…관리에 대한 연구가 진행되었는데 생태계 차원에서의 어업자원관리 방안에 관한 연구 (Zhang, 2006), 생태계 위험도를 평가하는 생태계 기반 자원평가 기법 (Zhang et al, 2009), 바다목장 생태계에 적합한 목표, 지표, 기 준점 개발에 관한 연구 (Zhang et al, 2010) (Table 2). Table 4~7에서 제시된 기준과 Table 8에 제시된 기준에 따라 각 지표의 위험도를 평가하였다.…”

“…As a result, important spawning and nursery grounds for many species of fish has been destroyed. The pragmatic ecosystem-based approach was developed for the assessment of fisheries resources in Korean waters by Zhang et al (2009;2010). As for the species risk index (SRI), common squid caught by coastal gillnet in the Uljin region had the highest risk.…”