Fisheries Ecosystem Planning: Can Ecosystem-Based Approaches Be Instituted in Chesapeake Bay
Ed Houde, University of Maryland, Center for Environmental Science, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory
21 Apr 2006
There is a popular movement and much high-level advocacy to develop and adopt ‘ecosystem-based fisheries management’ (EBFM), but to date few plans actually are developed. In Chesapeake Bay, ecosystem-based approaches recently were strategically embodied in a Fisheries Ecosystem Planning (FEP) document that may serve as a model for other regions and ecosystems. The document was developed by a team of scientists and managers as guidance for writing, revising, and amending fishery management plans to insure adherence to EBFM principles. The ‘C2K’ long-range plan of the Chesapeake Bay Program requires adoption of ecosystem-based approaches for fisheries and the FEP contains important guidance to serve that goal. The FEP provides advice on management approaches and identifies research needs for nine elements: Boundaries, Food webs, Habitats, Total removals, Monitoring, Indicators-reference points, Externalities, Uncertainty, and Socio-economics. Jurisdictional issues (geographical and institutional) are problematical and will require a new level of cooperation. Fishery management plans are now being written (Atlantic menhaden) or revised/amended (oyster, blue crab, striped bass, shads) in response to ‘C2K’ mandates for ecosystem-based approaches. The Executive Council of the Chesapeake Bay Program recently adopted the FEP as its document to guide a gradual shift to EBFM.