Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi 68 (3), 313-319 (2002)

Fisheries management in the 21st century

SYOITI TANAKA

Institute of Cetacean Research, Chuo, Tokyo 104-0055, Japan

During the last 100 years, fish population dynamics have explained the phenomenon of overfishing and have been used to determine optimum fishing such as MSY. Results from studies have been applied to fisheries management of various kinds of fish stocks. In the latter half of the 20th century, progress in computer techniques have enabled new theories of dynamics and techniques of data analyses to be developed. Various practical targets and criteria for fisheries management have been proposed. Nevertheless, most of the fish stocks in the world are at risk of overfishing. Researches of fish stocks often failed to provide decisive answers, and uncertainties in the fish stocks themselves and methodology for assessment remain. Fisheries are expected to become a larger food source in the new century, when the global population will reach 10 billion. Novel fisheries management as well as fishing techniques in the 21st century are required. Management procedures utilizing a feedback system should be practised, and key data for resolving uncertainties should be acquird.


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