Modelling spatial closures and fishing effort restrictions in the Faroe Islands marine ecosystem
Zeller, D.; Reinert, J. (2004). Modelling spatial closures and fishing effort restrictions in the Faroe Islands marine ecosystem. Ecol. Model. 172(2-4): 403-420
In: Ecological Modelling. Elsevier: Amsterdam; Lausanne; New York; Oxford; Shannon; Tokyo. ISSN 0304-3800; e-ISSN 1872-7026, more
Also appears in:Christensen, V.; Maclean, J.L. (Ed.) (2004). Placing fisheries in their ecosystem context. Ecological Modelling, 172(2-4). Elsevier: Amsterdam. 103-440 pp., more
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| Keywords |
Data > Fishery data > Fishing effort
Europe > Northern europe > Scandinavia > Denmark > Faroe islands
Fisheries > Marine fisheries
Marine/Coastal |
| Abstract |
The Faroe Islands, located in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, utilize a spatial- and effort-based system of fisheries management,explicitly incorporating ecosystem considerations in their policies. This management system was introduced relativelyrecently (mid-1990s). Given the importance of fishing to the Faroe economy and culture, considerable interest has been expressedin the evaluation of these new management measures at the ecosystem level. We used Ecopath with Ecosim to examinealternative management options for the Faroe Islands fisheries and compared these options with the status quo. Spatially explicitsimulations were carried out using the Ecospace routine. Simulations suggest that current area closures could be consideredbeneficial in conserving major stocks of demersal species, with biomass for cod (Gadus morhua), haddock (Melanogrammusaeglefinus) and other demersal species increasing over the 10-year simulation period. Simulated removal of the closure systemreduced the effect of the projected stock increases considerably. Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides), one ofthe major deep-water species, and blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou), one of the main pelagic species, did not benefitfrom the existing spatial management. Simulated additional offshore closures of at least 20% of habitats deeper than 200mbenefited Greenland halibut only. Both, Greenland halibut and blue whiting stocks benefited from drastic reductions in fishingeffort (between 20 and 50% reductions from 1997 effort levels). Considerable uncertainty underlies the basic input data,which might have major consequences for the dynamic behaviour of the simulations, and thus might significantly alter theoutcomes. |
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