A Fishery Managers Guidebook

Co-published with the Food and Agriculture Organization of theUnited Nations. Fisheries management is the process that hasevolved to try to ensure that fisheries operate in a manner thatprovides the immediate benefits in a sustainable manner. The widelyaccepted goal is that the full range of benefits should not only beavailable for this generation but for generations to come.Fisheries management has been successful in some cases but therehave also been many, many cases of failure. This volume is intended to contribute to improving thisunsatisfactory state by addressing the widespread need forinformation and guidance on the broad and often complex task offisheries management. It is an updated and expanded edition of thefirst version of “A fishery manager’s guidebook”which was published as a FAO Fisheries Technical Paper in 2002. The major part of this new edition is divided into five partsintended to cover the range of concerns, tools and techniquesessential to the modern fisheries manager, whether that manager isan individual or a formal or informal group. Following theIntroduction: Part I examines the primary dimensions of fisheries:biological, ecological, social and economic Part II looks at the legal and institutional characteristics offisheries Part III explores the tools that fishery managers have toachieve the objectives expected from a fishery Part IV discusses the role of scientific information ofindicators and reference points Part V moves into implementation of fisheries management andincludes a chapter on special considerations in small-scalefisheries This landmark publication is aimed at fishery managers andscientists. All libraries in research establishments anduniversities where fisheries and aquatic sciences are studied andtaught will need copies of this important volume. Fisheries around the world make essential contributions to humanwell-being including the provision of basic food supplies,employment, recreational opportunities, foreign currency andothers, providing benefits to hundreds of millions of people.Despite these benefits, our record of managing fisheries so thatthe benefits can be sustained has been poor, at best, and mostfisheries around the world are experiencing serious ecological,social or economic problems and usually all three. Today there isglobal concern about the state of fishery resources and aquaticecosystems, their resilience to future stresses such as climatechange and their ability to continue to provide benefits.

This handbook is the most comprehensive and interdisciplinary work on marine conservation and fisheries management ever compiled. It is the first to bridge fisheries and marine conservation issues. Its innovative ideas, detailed case studies, and governance framework provide a global special perspective over time and treat problems in the high seas, community fisheries, industrial fishing, and the many interactions between use and non-use of the oceans. Its policy tools and ideas for overcoming the perennial problems of over fishing, habitat and biodiversity loss address the facts that many marine ecosystems are in decline and plagued by overexploitation due to unsustainable fishing practices. An outstanding feature of the book is the detailed case-studies on conservation practice and fisheries management from around the world. These case studies are combined with 'foundation' chapters that provide an overview of the state of the marine world and innovative and far reaching perspectives about how we can move forward to face present and future challenges. The contributors include the world's leading fisheries scientists, economists, and managers. Ecosystem and incentive-based approaches are described and complemented by tools for cooperative, participatory solutions. Unique themes treated: fisher behavior and incentives for management beyond rights-based approaches; a synthesis of proposed 'solutions'; a framework for understanding and overcoming the critical determinants of the decline in fisheries, degradation of marine ecosystems, and poor socio-economic performance of many fishing communities; models for innovative policy instruments; a plan of action and adoption pathways to promote sustainable fishing practices globally. Collectively, the handbook's many valuable contributions offer a way forward to both understanding and resolving the multifaceted problems facing the world's oceans.

During the last decade, there has been a shift in the governance and management of fisheries to a broaderapproach that recognizes the participation of fishers, local stewardship, and shared decision-making.Through this process, fishers are empowered to become active members of the management team,balancing rights and responsibilities, and working in partnership with government. This approach iscalled co-management.This handbook describes the process of community-based co-management from its beginning, throughimplementation, to turnover to the community. It provides ideas, methods, techniques, activities, checklists,examples, questions and indicators for the planning and implementing of a process of community-basedco-management. It focuses on small-scale fisheries (freshwater, floodplain, estuarine, or marine) indeveloping countries, but is also relevant to small-scale fisheries in developed countries and to themanagement of other coastal resources (such as coral reefs, mangroves, sea grass, and wetlands). Thishandbook will be of significant interest to resource managers, practitioners, academics and students ofsmall-scale fisheries.

Fisheries Management is a beautifully-produced full colour guide to the management of still-water coarse fisheries. Carefully compiled by three leading specialists, who each draw on many years’ experience, this book is an essential purchase for all still water coarse fisheries managers. The correct management of still waters and their fisheries is vital to ensure environmental protection and an appropriate level of stocking densities of healthy fish. This new book provides the reader with the necessary information to achieve these goals. The book's first part covers the ecology of still waters and includes succinct and user-friendly information on physical and chemical processes, nutrient cycles, energy movements, trophic levels, bacteria, plants, invertebrates, fish, disease-causing organisms, mammals and birds. Part two provides in depth, but easily assimilated cutting edge information, on how a still-water fishery should be set up, developed and successfully managed. Coverage includes development, preparation and construction; stock assessment and invertebrate survey; control of water quality, aquatic plants, erosion, predators and nuisance species; management of the impact of climate change; fish disease and biosecurity; control of fishing activities, fish nutrition, fishery enhancement and condition improvement, and general administration. The final part of this excellent manual covers legal and social frameworks including general and environmental legislation, direct fisheries-related legislation, and agencies and organizations. Fisheries Management provides fishery managers with an invaluable, practical tool which none should be without. Students studying fisheries biology, fisheries management and aquatic sciences will find this a very useful learning resource, as will all those who are considering buying or building and setting up lakes for fisheries. All libraries in universities, research establishments and government agencies where fisheries and biological sciences are studied and taught should have copies of this landmark publication on their shelves. Editor and authors with many years’ practical experience Vital and commercially important information for fisheries managers A useful reference source for upper level students and academics Covers an important multi-million pound industry across many countries

The world’s stocks of wild fish continue to decline, making the task of finding innovative, sustainable and socially acceptable methods of fisheries management more important than ever. Several new approaches from around the world have proved to be successful in stemming the decline whilst increasing fish catches, and under the editorship of McClanahan and Castilla this international team of authors have looked to these examples to provide the reader with carefully chosen case studies offering practical suggestions and solutions for problem fisheries elsewhere. Coverage includes: Community based fisheries Collaborative and co-operative fisheries management Coastal fisheries management The future for sustainable fisheries management Written by many of the world’s most experienced practitioners Fisheries Management: Progress toward sustainability is an important purchase for all fisheries scientists, managers and conservationists. All libraries in universities and research establishments where this area is studied and taught will find this book a valuable addition to their shelves.