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IMPLEMENTING THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE IN FISHERIES MANAGEMENT THROUGH MARINE RESERVES
Author(s) -
Lauck Tim,
Clark Colin W.,
Mangel Marc,
Munro Gordon R.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
ecological applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.864
H-Index - 213
eISSN - 1939-5582
pISSN - 1051-0761
DOI - 10.1890/1051-0761(1998)8[s72:itppif]2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - overexploitation , marine reserve , fisheries management , business , fishery , stock (firearms) , fish stock , environmental resource management , marine ecosystem , marine fisheries , marine conservation , natural resource economics , marine protected area , precautionary principle , sustainable management , ecosystem , environmental planning , sustainability , fishing , ecology , geography , environmental science , economics , biology , habitat , archaeology
Overexploitation of marine fisheries remains a serious problem worldwide, even for many fisheries that have been intensively managed by coastal nations. Many factors have contributed to these system failures. Here we discuss the implications of persistent, irreducible scientific uncertainty pertaining to marine ecosystems. When combined with typical levels of uncontrollability of catches and incidental mortality, this uncertainty probably implies that traditional approaches to fisheries management will be persistently unsuccessful. We propose the use of large‐scale protected areas (marine reserves) as major components of future management programs. Protected areas can serve as a hedge against inevitable management limitations, thus greatly enhancing the long‐term sustainable exploitation of fishery resources. Marine reserves would also provide an escape from the need of ever more detailed and expensive stock assessments and would be invaluable in the rehabilitation of depleted stocks.