Implications of fisheries impacts to seabed biodiversity and ecosystem-based management

Biodiversity has many key roles in ecosystems, and many elements of biodiversity support fish species and therefore also fisheries. At the same time, cooperation fisheries also often affect seabed biodiversity. Furthermore, fisheries may also change the composition of fish communities, and we illustrate why changes in fish communities can matter to seabed biodiversity. These issues should matter to fisheries management. Biodiversity research by definition addresses heterogeneity and this should influence the nature of questions the science seeks to address and how empirical studies are designed. However, to date biodiversity research has not been fully incorporated into mainstream fisheries science. We aim to facilitate the transition to a more transdisciplinary framework, and move beyond the fisheries-focused management. Human pressure is increasing, and many ecosystems are affected by cumulative impacts from different sources of disturbance. We discuss insights from biodiversity and ecosystem function research, and we advocate for a focus on cumulative impacts from disturbance and resilience. We consider these to be critical elements of the transition into ecosystem-based management. The ecological systems and the services that they generate can be either degraded and support less biodiversity and a smaller range of human values, or they can be resorted. The choice is ours. We advocate for a development of participatory multi-sector management that integrates different institutions to contribute to cultural, social, economic, and biodiversity values for ocean governance.

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