EBFM Lvl 1

Question 1

Question: What does EBFM stand for?

Answer 1

Answer: EBFM stands for Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management.

Question 2

Question: What are the four main objectives of EBFM?

Answer 2

Answer: The four main objectives are to maintain the ecosystem, account for all ecosystem components, maintain socio-economic benefits without compromising the ecosystem, and generate knowledge of ecosystem processes.

Question 3

Question: Why is it important to account for non-targeted and protected species in EBFM?

Answer 3

Answer: It’s crucial to ensure that these species aren’t negatively impacted by fishing activities (through bycatch, habitat destruction, or feed competition), thus preserving the health and balance of the entire ecosystem.

Question 4

Question: How does EBFM aim to balance socio-economic benefits with ecological sustainability?

Answer 4

Answer: By managing the fishery resources in a way that maximizes socio-economic benefits, while maintaining the health of the ecosystem and avoiding its degradation.

Question 5

Question: Give examples of methodologies used in EBFM implementation.

Answer 5

Answer: Some examples include gear modification to reduce bycatch, area closure to prevent bycatch or habitat destruction, setting a total cap of harvest, creating a buffer for biomass targets, predator control, and restricting fishing opportunities to local residents.

Question 6

Question: How does the definition of EBFM vary among experts in different fields?

Answer 6

Answer: The understanding of EBFM can differ depending on an expert’s field of focus, such as conservation, stock assessment, ecology, policy, or management.

Question 7

Question: What role do bioeconomic models play in EBFM and what are their limitations?

Answer 7

Answer: Bioeconomic models help understand the interaction between species within the ecosystem. However, when dealing with many species, it can be difficult to establish an effective harvest strategy.

Question 8

Question: How does EBFM differ from traditional management in terms of target species and their interactions?

Answer 8

Answer: Unlike traditional management that primarily focuses on target species, EBFM takes into account the interactions of target species with other species and parts of the ecosystem.

Question 9

Question: How might the target biomass or harvest level differ when implementing EBFM compared to traditional management?

Answer 9

Answer: When implementing EBFM, the target biomass or harvest level might be adjusted to account for the impact on other species and the ecosystem as a whole, which is often not considered in traditional management approaches.