IMPLEMENTING THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE IN FISHERIES MANAGEMENT THROUGH MARINE RESERVES

TLDR

Marine fisheries are overexploited worldwide, and multiple factors have led to management failures. The study argues that persistent scientific uncertainty undermines conventional fisheries management and proposes large‑scale marine reserves as a solution. The authors suggest implementing large‑scale marine reserves as key elements of future management programs. They find that uncertainty renders conventional management ineffective, but marine reserves can mitigate these limitations, improve long‑term sustainability, reduce reliance on detailed stock assessments, and aid stock recovery.

Abstract

Overexploitation of marine fisheries remains a serious problem worldwide, even for many fisheries that have been intensively managed by coastal nations. Many factors have contributed to these system failures. Here we discuss the implications of persistent, irreducible scientific uncertainty pertaining to marine ecosystems. When combined with typical levels of uncontrollability of catches and incidental mortality, this uncertainty probably implies that traditional approaches to fisheries management will be persistently unsuccessful. We propose the use of large-scale protected areas (marine reserves) as major components of future management programs. Protected areas can serve as a hedge against inevitable management limitations, thus greatly enhancing the long-term sustainable exploitation of fishery resources. Marine reserves would also provide an escape from the need of ever more detailed and expensive stock assessments and would be invaluable in the rehabilitation of depleted stocks.