USA (West-Coast) - Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries

Ecosystem approaches to fisheries management have been implemented across nearly all fishery sectors, and a Fishery Ecosystem Plan was developed in 2012. Specific management actions that have been implemented over the past decade include spatial management measures to protect critical habitat, extra protections for low trophic level species, and bycatch provisions.  Spatial management includes Essential Fish Habitat conservation areas, rockfish conservation areas, salmon conservation zones, state marine protected areas, and National Marine Sanctuaries. Krill harvest is prohibited on the US West Coast and important forage species such as sardine and shortbelly rockfish are managed conservatively.  An individual transferable quota system was implemented in the groundfish fleet in 2011, and has reduced bycatch of non-target species.  This fleet includes mandatory observers and vehicle monitoring systems to ensure compliance with regulations.

In addition to these management measures, NOAA has initiated an Integrated Ecosystem Assessment (IEA) of the California Current ecosystem.  This program began in 2011, and continues with annual updates.  The IEA framework consists of developing a suite of indicators for each sector of the ecosystem (ecosystem integrity, fisheries, protected species, and vibrant coastal communities), and conducting risk analysis to evaluate the susceptibility of each indicator to natural and human threats. Management strategy evaluations are then conducted to determine how different management strategies influence the status of ecosystem components of management concern.