EBFM lvl 2 Flashcards
Question: What is Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management (EBFM), and what are its four main objectives?
Answer: EBFM stands for Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management. Its 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: In the context of EBFM, why is it important to account for non-targeted and protected species, and how does this differ from traditional management practices?
Answer: In EBFM, it’s crucial to ensure that non-targeted and protected 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. This approach differs from traditional management practices that primarily focus on target species without explicitly accounting for their interactions with other species and parts of the ecosystem.
Question: How does EBFM aim to balance socio-economic benefits with ecological sustainability, and can you provide examples of the methodologies used in EBFM implementation?
Answer: EBFM balances socio-economic benefits with ecological sustainability by managing fishery resources in a way that maximizes socio-economic benefits, while maintaining the health of the ecosystem and avoiding its degradation. Some examples of methodologies used in EBFM implementation 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: How does the interpretation of EBFM vary among experts in different fields, and what role do bioeconomic models play in EBFM?
Answer: The understanding of EBFM can differ depending on an expert’s field of focus, such as conservation, stock assessment, ecology, policy, or management. Bioeconomic models in EBFM 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: How might the target biomass or harvest level in EBFM differ when compared to traditional management approaches, and what does this imply about the consideration for other species and the ecosystem as a whole?
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. This differs from traditional management approaches, which often don’t consider these factors explicitly.
