Paradigm shifts in fish conservation: moving to the ecosystem services concept

Abstract

Various factors constrain the existence and development of inland fishes and fisheries, such as pollution, habitat degradation, alien invasive species, local user conflicts, low social priority and inadequate research and funding. In many cases, however, degradation of the environment and loss of aquatic habitat are the predominant concerns for the conservation of freshwater aquatic biota. The need for concerted effort to prevent and reduce environmental degradation, as well as protection of freshwater fishes and fisheries as renewable common pool resources or entities in their own right, are the greatest challenges facing the conservation of fishes in inland waters. Unfortunately, traditional conservation practices such as regulation of exploitation, protected areas and habitat restoration have failed to arrest the alarming increase in number of threatened freshwater fish species worldwide. This paper examines the shifting paradigm of fisheries management from rule-based regulation, through fishery enhancement towards the ecosystem approach to fisheries, with reference to inland waters, and how the emerging concept of ecosystem services coupled with traditional fish conservation management practices, institutional restructuring and integrated management planning should provide a more sustainable thrust to formulation and promotion of fish conservation initiatives.

The changing role of ecohydrological science in guiding environmental flows

“…The concept of ecosystem services (Barbier 2008, Fisher et al 2009 brought to prominence in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA 2005) demonstrates that healthy freshwater ecosystems provide economic security, e.g. fish, medicines and timber (Emerton andBos 2004, Cowx andPortocarrero Aya 2011); social security, e.g. protection from natural hazards, such as floods and ethical security, e.g.…”

“…In an attempt to demonstrate the wider benefits of functioning ecosystems to decision-makers-who have traditionally worked within an economic framework-economic valuation of environmental flows is being increasingly addressed (Cowx and Portocarrero Aya 2011), such as in Chile (Wagnitz et al 2014), the Mekong (King and Brown 2010) and the Okavango (King et al 2014). The ecosystem services approach has also been followed in Australia (Plant et al 2012) since incorporation of the concept in the Water Act 2007.…”

On the sustainability of inland fisheries: Finding a future for the forgotten

“…Such strategies are being piloted in the conservation of the culturally valued Hilsa fish in Bangladesh (Wahab et al 2014). The capacity to integrate values of ecosystems services across sectors into decision making about inland waters is necessary to ensure that valuation efforts are directly linked to policy opportunities and outcomes (Cowx and Portocarrero Aya 2011).…”

Salty stories, fresh spaces: Lessons for aquatic protected areas from marine and freshwater experiences

“…Addressing such threats requires integrated spatial planning that accounts for APAs as one of many uses, as well as restoration of degraded habitats both inside and outside APAs. Addressing connectivity is especially relevant to riverine FPAs because the linear nature of rivers means they are generally at greater risk of fragmentation and anthropogenic threats than marine habitats (Cooke et al, ; Cowx & Portocarrero Aya, ), making catchment‐scale approaches particularly important (Hermoso, Cattarino, Kennard, Watts, & Linke, ; Linke, Norris, & Pressey, ). However, coastal MPAs are also affected by upstream terrestrial inputs at the land–sea interface.…”