Responsible Approach to Marine Stock Enhancement: An Update

TLDR

Marine stock enhancement involves releasing cultured organisms to boost or restore fisheries, a practice that is widespread, variable in success, and often controversial, and has been guided by the Responsible Approach principles proposed by Blankenship and Leber. The authors update the Responsible Approach to reflect recent advances in fisheries science and management. The updated approach emphasizes a broad, integrated view of enhancements within fisheries management, stakeholder participation, scientific accountability, and early assessment of enhancement contributions relative to alternative measures. Progress in fisheries assessment methods and governance now enables practical implementation of the updated approach.

Abstract

Marine stock enhancement is a set of management approaches involving the release of cultured organisms to enhance or restore fisheries. Such practices, including sea ranching, stock enhancement, and restocking, are widespread, of variable success, and often controversial. A set of principles aimed at promoting responsible development of restocking, stock enhancement, and sea ranching has been proposed by Blankenship and Leber [American Fisheries Society Symposia 15: 167–175 (1995)], and has gained widespread acceptance as the 'Responsible Approach'. Fisheries science and management, in general, and many aspects of fisheries enhancement have developed rapidly since the responsible approach was first formulated. Here we provide an update to the Responsible Approach in light of these developments. The updated approach emphasizes the need for taking a broad and integrated view of the role of enhancements within fisheries management systems; using a stakeholder participatory and scientifically informed, accountable planning process; and assessing the potential contribution of enhancement and alternative or additional measures to fisheries management goals early on in the development or reform process. Progress in fisheries assessment methods applicable to enhancements and in fisheries governance provides the means for practical implementation of the updated approach.