Harvest control rules for data limited stocks using length-based reference points and survey biomass indices

Abstract Zhang, Y., Chen, Y., and Wilson, C. 2011. Developing and evaluating harvest control rules with different biological reference points for the American lobster (Homarus americanus) fishery in the Gulf of Maine. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 1511–1524. The American lobster (Homarus americanus) supports one of the most valuable commercial fisheries in the United States. Controversy exists, however, in terms of the biological reference point (BRP) used in assessing lobster stock status, and there is no fully established or evaluated harvest control rule (HCR). A sex-specific, size-dependent operating model is developed to evaluate the performance of two HCRs, discrete and continuous, which adjust annual fishing mortality discretely and linearly, respectively, based on the status of the fishery. For each HCR, different BRPs are considered along with management duration, recruitment dynamics, and natural mortality. HCRs with a suitable set of BRPs can drive the fishery from an undesirable status to an optimal status. The continuous HCR tends to perform better than the discrete one. The Ftarget of 0.31 year−1 showed the best performance in the long term by balancing the needs of the fishing industry and conservation bodies. However, this was not the case in the short term. An Ntarget of 49.6 million would allow the American lobster to be maintained at its current stock level, with high recruitment and stable natural mortality. The study provides a framework for a systematic evaluation of management regulations for the American lobster.

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Can we fish on stocks that need rebuilding? Illustrating the trade-offs between stock conservation and fisheries considerations

10.1101/2021.02.25.432880 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Vanessa Trijoulet ◽

Casper W Berg ◽

Claus R Sparrevohn ◽

Anders Nielsen ◽

Martin A Pastoors ◽

...

Keyword(s):

North Sea ◽

Reference Point ◽

Reference Points ◽

Lower Probability ◽

Medium Term ◽

Short Term ◽

Fish Stocks ◽

Control Rules ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Harvest Control Rules

In the Northeast Atlantic, advice for many fish stocks follows the ICES MSY approach, where a zero catch will be recommended if the stock is below its limit reference point, Blim, and cannot rebuild in the short-term. However, zero catch advice are rarely implemented by managers. This study used medium-term stochastic forecasts with harvest control rules (HCRs) to investigate the consequences of allowing reduced fishing below Blim. We applied the method to western Baltic herring and North Sea cod, two contrasting species currently estimated below Blim. We show that the minimum rebuilding probability of 95% required by the MSY approach could be impossible to reach in the short-to medium-term. When this is the case, a lower probability may need to be considered instead in the short-term. Recruitment is the largest source of uncertainty in stock response to management, and can exceed differences between HCRs. Reference points should be estimated in accordance with current recruitment levels if they are to be used for short-term advice or as realistic rebuilding targets. For both stocks, it is possible to keep fishing at reduced levels for similar cumulative catch, SSB and risk on the stock in the medium-term compared to no catch below Blim. Medium-term trade-offs between stock conservation and fisheries considerations may be needed when fishery closure cannot be implemented in practice.

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Performance evaluation of harvest control rules for Pacific herring management in British Columbia, Canada

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fsq129 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 67 (9) ◽

pp. 2005-2011 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

J. S. Cleary ◽

S. P. Cox ◽

J. F. Schweigert

Keyword(s):

British Columbia ◽

Performance Evaluation ◽

Reference Point ◽

Fishery Management ◽

Reference Points ◽

Management Policy ◽

Pacific Herring ◽

High Productivity ◽

Control Rules ◽

Harvest Control Rules

Abstract Cleary, J. S., Cox, S. P., and Schweigert, J. F. 2010. Performance evaluation of harvest control rules for Pacific herring management in British Columbia, Canada. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 67: 2005–2011. Despite application of a harvest control rule (HCR) since 1986, abundance of several Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi) stocks in British Columbia, Canada, are currently below levels considered adequate for exploitation. An alternative HCR, based on default limit and upper stock reference (USR) points at 0.4 BMSY and 0.8 BMSY, was recently developed under Canada's precautionary fisheries management policy. We simulated the Pacific herring fishery management system to examine whether (i) realized fishery performance over the past 10 years is an expected consequence of applying the existing herring HCR (with a single lower reference point) and (ii) performance could be improved by adopting the Department of Fisheries and Oceans new HCR with limit and USR points. Both HCRs successfully rebuilt stocks to sustainable levels under a high-productivity scenario, but performed poorly when stock productivity was low. The two HCRs were sensitive to stock productivity, because the effect of a target harvest rate (20%) that is independent of productivity was much larger than the effects of biomass reference-point choices. We therefore recommend further research on estimating reference points and sustainable harvest rates for Pacific herring, so that HCRs may be made more responsive to changes in productivity.

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The roles of biological reference points and operational control points in management procedures for the sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) fishery in British Columbia, Canada

Environmental Conservation ◽

10.1017/s0376892913000271 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 40 (4) ◽

pp. 318-328 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

SEAN P. COX ◽

ALLEN R. KRONLUND ◽

ASHLEEN J. BENSON

Keyword(s):

British Columbia ◽

Stock Assessment ◽

Reference Points ◽

Control Points ◽

Operational Control ◽

Short Term ◽

Anoplopoma Fimbria ◽

Control Rules ◽

Management Procedures ◽

Harvest Control Rules

SUMMARYBiological reference points (BRPs) in fisheries policy are typically sensitive to stock assessment model assumptions, thus increasing uncertainty in harvest decision-making and potentially blocking adoption of precautionary harvest policies. A collaborative management strategy evaluation approach and closed-loop simulation modelling was used to evaluate expected fishery economic and conservation performance of the sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) fishery in British Columbia (Canada), in the presence of uncertainty about BRPs. Comparison of models derived using two precautionary harvest control rules, which each complied with biological conservation objectives and short-term economic objectives given by industry, suggested that both rules were likely to avert biomass decline below limit BRPs, even when stock biomass and production were persistently overestimated by stock assessment models. The slightly less conservative, industry-preferred harvest control rule also avoided short-term economic losses of c. CAN$ 2.7–10 million annually, or 10–50% of current landed value. Distinguishing between the role of BRPs in setting fishery conservation objectives and operational control points that define harvest control rules improved the flexibility of the sablefish management system, and has led to adoption of precautionary management procedures.

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Implementing the precautionary approach into fisheries management: Making the case for probability-based harvest control rules

10.1101/2020.11.06.369785 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Tobias K. Mildenberger ◽

Casper W. Berg ◽

Alexandros Kokkalis ◽

Adrian R. Hordyk ◽

Chantel Wetzel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fisheries Management ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Reference Points ◽

Production Model ◽

Scientific Uncertainty ◽

Precautionary Approach ◽

Control Rules ◽

Stock Biomass ◽

Harvest Control Rules

AbstractThe precautionary approach to fisheries management advocates for risk-averse management strategies that include biological reference points as well as decision rules and account for scientific uncertainty. In this regard, two approaches have been recommended: (i) harvest control rules (HCRs) with threshold reference points to safeguard against low stock biomass, and (ii) the P* method, a ‘probability-based HCR’ that reduces the catch limit as a function of scientific uncertainty (i.e. process, model, and observation uncertainty). This study compares the effectiveness of these precautionary approaches in recovering over-exploited fish stocks with various life-history traits and under a wide range of levels of scientific uncertainty. We use management strategy evaluation based on a stochastic, age-based operating model with quarterly time steps and a stochastic surplus production model. The results show that the most effective HCR includes both a biomass threshold as well as the P* method, and leads to high and stable long-term yield with a decreased risk of low stock biomass. For highly dynamics stocks, management strategies that aim for higher biomass targets than the traditionally used BMSY result in higher long-term yield. This study makes the case for probability-based HCRs by demonstrating their benefit over deterministic HCRs and provides a list of recommendations regarding their definition and implementation.

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Harvest Control Rules

Fish Population Dynamics, Monitoring, and Management - Fisheries Science Series ◽

10.1007/978-4-431-56621-2_11 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 183-206 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Seiji Ohshimo ◽

Takashi Yamakawa

Keyword(s):

Control Rules ◽

Harvest Control Rules

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Evolution of a co-management arrangement in Japanese offshore fisheries: current policy and legal framework and a case study of the tiger puffer fishery in Ise–Mikawa Bay

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fsz047 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 76 (6) ◽

pp. 1567-1580

Author(s):

Kanae Tokunaga ◽

Tsutom Miyata ◽

Hiroki Wakamatsu

Keyword(s):

Fisheries Management ◽

Legal Framework ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

Current Policy ◽

Coastal Fisheries ◽

Control Rules ◽

Community Boundaries ◽

Tiger Puffer ◽

Harvest Control Rules

Abstract This study examines Japanese offshore fisheries management by focusing on the possibilities and challenges in implementing co-management of fisheries. Offshore fisheries, characterized by a lack of clear geographical boundaries in fishing grounds and community boundaries in fishery participants, face different challenges than coastal fisheries that are managed by territorial use rights and fisheries cooperative associations. This study examines the current policy and legal framework in offshore fisheries management in Japan and uses a case study of the tiger puffer fishery in Ise–Mikawa Bay to investigate interactions among multiple fishing entities as well as interactions between resource harvesters and managers. We argue that increased participation of both national and prefectural governments in fisheries management contributes to strengthen co-management: yet, a lack of science-based harvest control rules hinders the biological and economic benefits from accruing to the fishery.

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Institutional designs to face the dark side of total allowable catches

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fsm060 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 64 (4) ◽

pp. 851-857 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ikerne del Valle ◽

Kepa Astorkiza

Keyword(s):

Dark Side ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Control Rules ◽

Opportunistic Behaviour ◽

Self Interest ◽

Conflicting Interests ◽

Endogenous Process ◽

Harvest Control Rules ◽

Stock Abundance

Abstract del Valle, I., and Astorkiza, K. 2007. Institutional designs to face the dark side of total allowable catches. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 64: 851–857. Setting total allowable catches (TACs) is an endogenous process in which different agents and institutions, often with conflicting interests and opportunistic behaviour, try to influence policy-makers. Far from being the benevolent social planners many would wish them to be, these policy-makers may also pursue self-interest when making final decisions. Although restricted knowledge of stock abundance and population dynamics, and weakness in enforcement, have effects, these other factors may explain why TAC management has failed to guarantee sustainable exploitation of fish resources. Rejecting the exogeneity of the TAC and taking advantage of fruitful debate on economic policy (i.e. the rules vs. discretion debate, and that surrounding the independence of central banks), two institutional developments are analysed as potential mechanisms to face up to misconceptions about TACs: long-term harvest control rules and a central bank of fish.

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Substituting model-based indicators in Harvest Control Rules by observations using fuzzy logic methodology

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fsx227 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 75 (3) ◽

pp. 977-987

Author(s):

Arne Eide

Keyword(s):

Fuzzy Logic ◽

Mathematical Models ◽

Stock Assessment ◽

Decision Rules ◽

Initial Information ◽

Stock Size ◽

Control Rules ◽

Stock Biomass ◽

Size Evaluation ◽

Harvest Control Rules

Abstract Harvest Control Rules are predefined heuristic decision rules to provide quota advices for managed fisheries. Frequently statistical methods and biological assumptions expressed in mathematical models, are used to provide the Harvest Control Rules with initial information (indicators values). The aim of this article is to investigate a possible way forward of replacing these inputs by quantities of measurable observations, e.g. catch-at-age statistics. The article presents a method by which recruitment indexes and stock biomass indicators are obtained by non-parametric use of annual catch-at-age records, without filtering the raw data (observations) through mathematical models. Two related methods, applied on three empirical cases, are provided: First, showing that recruitment strengths of the Northeast Arctic cod, haddock, and saithe stocks, obtained by fuzzy logic methodology, are satisfactory captures by the use of catch-at-age data. Second, stock size indicators are estimated for the three species by the same catch-at-age data. The second task turns out to be more challenging than the first, but also in the case of stock size evaluation, the suggested procedure provides reasonable results when compared to standard stock assessment methods.

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Where the waters meet: sharing ideas and experiences between inland and marine realms to promote sustainable fisheries management

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/cjfas-2014-0176 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 71 (10) ◽

pp. 1593-1601 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

S.J. Cooke ◽

R. Arlinghaus ◽

D.M. Bartley ◽

T.D. Beard ◽

I.G. Cowx ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Habitat Management ◽

Integrated Management ◽

Reference Points ◽

Policy Dialogue ◽

The Public ◽

Fisheries Resources ◽

Control Rules ◽

The People ◽

Management Approaches ◽

Cross Fertilization

Although inland and marine environments, their fisheries, fishery managers, and the realm-specific management approaches are often different, there are a surprising number of similarities that frequently go unrecognized. We contend that there is much to be gained by greater cross-fertilization and exchange of ideas and strategies between realms and the people who manage them. The purpose of this paper is to provide examples of the potential or demonstrated benefits of working across aquatic boundaries for enhanced sustainable management of the world’s fisheries resources. Examples include the need to (1) engage in habitat management and protection as the foundation for fisheries, (2) rethink institutional arrangements and management for open-access fisheries systems, (3) establish “reference points” and harvest control rules, (4) engage in integrated management approaches, (5) reap conservation benefits from the link to fish as food, and (6) reframe conservation and management of fish to better engage the public and industry. Cross-fertilization and knowledge transfer between realms could be realized using environment-independent curricula and symposia, joint scientific advisory councils for management, integrated development projects, and cross-realm policy dialogue. Given the interdependence of marine and inland fisheries, promoting discussion between the realms has the potential to promote meaningful advances in managing global fisheries.

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