Evaluating and implementing social–ecological systems: A comprehensive approach to sustainable fisheries

Fisheries sustainability is recognized to have four pillars: ecological, economic, social (including cultural) and institutional (or governance). Although international agreements, and legislation in many jurisdictions, call for implementation of all four pillars of sustainability, the social, economic and institutional aspects (i.e., the “human dimensions”) have not been comprehensively and collectively addressed to date. This study describes a framework for comprehensive fisheries evaluation developed by the Canadian Fisheries Research Network (CFRN) that articulates the full spectrum of ecological, economic, social and institutional objectives required under international agreements, together with candidate performance indicators for sustainable fisheries. The CFRN framework is aimed at practical fisheries evaluation and management and has a relatively balanced distribution of elements across the four pillars of sustainability relative to 10 alternative management decision support tools and indicator scorecards, which are heavily focused on ecological and economic aspects. The CFRN framework has five immediate uses: (a) It can serve as a logic frame for defining management objectives; (b) it can be used to define alternate management options to achieve given objectives; (c) it can serve as a tool for comparing management scenarios/options in decision support frameworks; (d) it can be employed to create a report card for comprehensive fisheries management evaluation; and (e) it is a tool for practical implementation of an integrated social–ecological system approach.     

以公共价值为基础的洱海流域水环境治理项目绩效评价

为研究洱海流域水环境治理项目的绩效水平,选择了水稻绿色种植项目、湿地建设项目、垃圾处理项目,并从公共价值角度构建了实施过程子系统与环境结果子系统的环境治理项目绩效评价体系。政策实施过程,从政策实施的"公平性"、政府部门管理的"效率性"、合作生产的"参与性"、生态效果的"可持续性"四维度提取指标因子;环境治理结果从污水处理效果、生活垃圾转运效果、项目运行状况等指标来衡量。结果显示,从项目实施过程绩效值看,水稻绿色种植、湿地建设、垃圾处理项目的绩效值分别为0.6810、0.7908、0.8833,绿色种植和湿地建设绩效值结果为"较好",垃圾处理项目绩效值结果为"很好";从生态结果绩效值看,水稻绿色种植项目的绩效值为0.7197,湿地建设项目的绩效值为0.7019,垃圾处理项目的绩效值为0.9500,垃圾处理项目生态效果为"很好"级别,湿地建设项目绩效值要好于水稻绿色种植项目;从项目的综合绩效值看,水稻绿色种植项目、湿地建设项目、垃圾处理项目的绩效值分别为0.7004、0.7464、0.9167,水稻绿色种植和湿地建设项目绩效等级为"较好",垃圾处理项目的绩效等级为"很好"。研究表明,以公共价值为基础框架的水环境治理项目绩效评价结果与实际调研情况相吻合,同时也为水环境污染治理绩效评价提供了新视角和新尝试。     

Catching the future: Applying Bayesian belief networks to exploratory scenario storylines to assess long‐term changes in Baltic herring (Clupea harengus membras,Clupeidae) and salmon (Salmo salar,Salmonidae) fisheries

Fisheries management aims to ensure that the fishing activities are environmentally sustainable in the long term, while also achieving the economic, social and food security related management objectives. To facilitate this, both the ecological and human dimensions of sustainability need to be included in fisheries assessment. In addition, assessing long‐term sustainability calls for taking into account plausible changes in the surrounding societal conditions that shape the characteristics of the fisheries governance system, as well as the ecological conditions. The paper uses a combination of qualitative exploratory scenario storylines (ESS) and Bayesian belief networks (BBN) to integrate the environmental, economic, social and food security dimensions in an interdisciplinary assessment of the future sustainability of Baltic herring (Clupea harengus membras, Clupeidae) and salmon (Salmo salar, Salmonidae) fisheries. First, four alternative ESS were created based on plausible changes in societal drivers. The ESS were then formulated into a BBN to (a) visualize the assumed causalities, and (b) examine quantitatively how changes in the societal drivers affect the social‐ecological fisheries system and ultimately the fisheries management objectives. This type of probabilistic scenario synthesis can help in thinking qualitative scenarios in a quantitative way. Moreover, it can increase understanding on the causal links between societal driving forces and the complex fisheries system and on how the management objectives can be achieved, thereby providing valuable information for strategic decision‐making under uncertainty.     

鄱阳湖国家湿地公园湿地生态系统健康评价研究

湿地生态系统与森林、海洋生态系统一起被称为地球三大生态系统,在维持地球生命和全球生态平衡方面具有不可替代的作用。对湿地生态系统健康进行评价,识别影响其健康的重要因子,可为湿地健康的诊断和湿地保护与管理提供依据。以鄱阳湖国家湿地公园湿地生态系统为研究对象,在充分考虑湿地实际情况的基础上,从湿地自然环境、整体功能和社会环境3个子系统选取21项评价指标,运用模糊综合评价法对湿地生态系统健康状况进行了综合分析。结果表明,鄱阳湖国家湿地公园生态系统健康度为0.619,处于第Ⅱ等级(健康);3个子系统中,湿地的自然环境和整体功能分别在0.431和0.540的程度上属于较健康状态,湿地的社会环境健康状况最差,在0.452的程度上属于疾病状态;制约因素主要有土壤性状、物种多样性、物质生产功能、环保投资指数、化肥使用强度、农药使用强度以及人口自然增长率。从评价结果分析来看,湿地自然环境和整体功能受到的影响虽然没有社会环境受到的影响大,但也应引起足够的重视,这两类指标属于长期指标,在短时间不会产生巨大变化。     

A bio-economic indicators suite for the appraisal of the demersal trawl fishery in the Southern Adriatic Sea (Central Mediterranean)

The state of demersal fishery in the Southern Adriatic Sea (GFCM-GSA 18, Central Mediterranean), years 1996–2003, from a biological, social and economic point of view was analysed using 47 indicators: 22 biological indicators obtained from fishery-independent data through yearly experimental bottom trawl surveys (“Medits” Programme), and 25 socio-economic indicators estimated from fishery-dependent data, available from the monitoring system of the Italian Institute for Economic Research on Fisheries and Aquaculture (IREPA). Biological indicators were applied for “single-species” (Eledone cirrhosa, E. moschata, Illex coindetti, Merluccius merluccius, Mullus barbatus, Nephrops norvegicus, Parapenaeus longirostris, Raja clavata, Zeus faber) and for “multi-species” analysis. Economic indicators describing economic performance, productivity, costs and prices, and the overall economic sustainability of fishery were estimated. Social indicators and a general indicator summarising social sustainability were also considered. Indicators’ values were displayed using the Traffic Light system. Both fishery-independent and fishery-dependent indicators highlighted a progressive decline of the trawl fishery system in the GSA 18. This decline was mainly related to the ongoing depletion of the traditional fishery target species (mostly long-living, late-maturing species) partially replaced by the increase of traditional accessory species (generally short-living species), as well as to the reduction of productivity and increasing costs. The whole procedure was proposed as a contribution to the identification and applicability of bio-economic indicators for fishery management purposes.     

Economic and social dimensions of aquaculture management

Abstract

Aquaculture management patterns are greatly influenced by the economic or social purpose of the project. Though some types of farms may yield both economic and social benefits, they can generally be classified on the basis of their major objective. Economic benefits, in one form or the other, gets considered in the planning stage of all farming activities; but it is necessary to ensure social and environmental viability as well to achieve sustainability. Subsistence and family farming, crop/animal integrated farming and farming for recreational purposes, are largely orientated to social benefits; whereas small‐scale farming enterprises, cooperative and state farms, as well as vertically integrated large‐scale farms are run mainly for economic gains. Stock enhancement and creation of culture‐based fisheries represent a mix of all the three elements of sustainability, with a stronger base of environmental improvement. The complexity of management differs significantly between these types of enterprises. The systems of production adopted, such as extensive, semi‐intensive, intensive and super‐intensive, as well as farm location (land‐based or open waters) bring about their own special management problems, especially in relation to ecological integrity.     

Nudging fisheries and aquaculture research towards food systems

Food system is a powerful concept for understanding and responding to nutrition and sustainability challenges. Food systems integrate social, economic, environmental and health aspects of food production through to consumption. Aquatic foods are an essential part of food systems providing an accessible source of nutrition for millions of people. Yet, it is unclear to what degree research across diverse disciplines concerning aquatic foods has engaged food systems, and the value this concept has added. We conducted a systematic review of fisheries, aquaculture and aquatic food literature (2017–2019) to determine the following: the characteristics of this research; the food systems components and interrelations with which research engaged; and the insights generated on nutrition, justice, sustainability and climate change. Sixty five of the 88 reviewed articles focussed on production and supply chains, with 23 considering human nutrition. Only 13% of studies examined low- and middle-income countries that are most vulnerable to undernutrition. One third of articles looked beyond finfish to other aquatic foods, which illuminated values of local knowledge systems and diverse foods for nutrition. When aggregated, reviewed articles examined the full range of food system drivers—biophysical and environmental (34%), demographic (24%) and socio-cultural (27%)—but rarely examined interactions between drivers. Future research that examines a diversity of species in diets, system-wide flows of nutrients, trade-offs amongst objectives, and the nutritional needs of vulnerable social groups would be nudging closer to the ambitions of the food systems concept, which is necessary to address the global challenges of equity, nutrition and sustainability.     

粤港澳大湾区湿地生态风险评估

为了整体把握粤港澳大湾区湿地生态系统风险水平，以 GlobeLand30地表覆盖产品、气温和降水站点数据、MODIS NDVI产品和人口、GDP、粮食作物单产等统计资料为主要数据源，基于PSR模型，采用层次分析法（AHP）构建湿地生态风险评估体系，分析了湿地的外界压力、自身状态和响应指标的变化特征，并对2000-2020年大湾区湿地生态风险进行综合评估。结果表明：（1）该区域湿地生态压力变化呈现先下降后增长的趋势，经济的快速发展和城市扩张是影响湿地生态风险的主要压力因素；（2）湿地生态风险的状态水平逐渐下降，呈现“外高内低”的分布格局，景观内部破碎化相对严重。生态响应水平波动较小，但整体生态系统服务价值呈下滑趋势；（3）粤港澳大湾区2000年、2010年和2020年湿地生态风险评估值分别为0.470、0.426和0.418，风险水平为“较高风险”。高风险地区比重下降了21.15%，中风险区域提升了约11.54%。从空间上看，西部和东部地区湿地生态风险显著降低，大部分城市的风险水平处于中等或者较高等级。粤港澳大湾区湿地资源的修复和管理面临众多挑战，建议处理好城市建设和湿地保护的矛盾、提升公众保护意识、注重与非湿地系统的调控并完善相关制度，更好地协调湿地生态条件和社会经济发展之间的关系，服务于粤港澳大湾区建设的国家战略需求。     

Assessing freshwater fish sensitivity to different sources of perturbation in a Mediterranean basin

Abstract –  The accuracy of bioassessment programmes is highly limited by the precision of the systems used to derive sensitivity–tolerance values for the organisms used as indicators. We provide quantitative support to the objective evaluation of freshwater fish species sensitivity to different sources of disturbance, accounting for co-variation issues not only between perturbations and natural gradients (especially river size), but also between different perturbations. With this aim, we performed two different principal component analyses: (i) on a general environmental matrix to obtain a perturbation gradient independent of river size effects and (ii) on human impairment-related variables to extract independent synthetic perturbation gradients. Then, we checked each species responses to those gradients to assess their sensitivity–tolerance through an available-used chi-squared analysis in the first approach and through a t -test/ ancova analysis in the second one. In this way, we obtained sensitivity–tolerance which could be included in future bioassessment tools, enabling effective evaluations.     

基于灰色关联的寒区湿地春夏季浮游植物数量与环境因子关系

根据夏季(2005年7月)和春季(2006年5月)对寒区湿地--安邦河湿地浮游植物数量及其环境因子的调查,为寒区湿地管理及以后研究提供依据和基础资料.共采到浮游植物8门92种,其中春季37种,夏季82种,数量变化呈现夏季高于春季,上游高于下游,边缘区高于核心区.环境因子除了透明度(diaphaneity,D)和pH值外,水温(water temperature,WT)、可溶性无机氮(dissolved inorganic nitrogen,DIN)、磷酸盐(PO 4-P,P)及溶解氧(dissolved oxygen,DO)都呈现明显时空规律性变化.差异度结果显示2季节P的差异度最大.灰色关联分析结果表明,P的关联度在2季节均是最大.由此表明对安邦河湿地浮游植物数量影响最大的是P,因此,控制外源性的P输入对于维持安邦河湿地生态系统的健康是非常重要的.     

Integrating freshwater wetland science into planning for Great Barrier Reef sustainability

1. The paper ‘Biodiversity values of remnant freshwater floodplain lagoons in agricultural catchments: evidence for fish of the Wet Tropics bioregion, northern Australia’, published in Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems in 2015, has contributed in several ways to the integration of freshwater wetland science within new catchment management policies and practices for Great Barrier Reef (GBR) sustainability.
2. The Tully–Murray biodiversity study developed novel protocols to sample larval, juvenile, and adult fish life‐history stages in floodplain lagoons using a combination of boat‐based backpack electrofishing and fyke netting. In addition, hydrological and hydrodynamic models were applied in a completely new way to quantify the timing, extent, and duration of water connectivity across floodplain streams, cane drains, and wetlands. Combining the two novel approaches enabled an analysis of lagoon fish assemblage patterns in relation to environmental gradients, especially floodplain hydrology, connectivity patterns, and measures related to agricultural land use.
3. In demonstrating the importance of different levels of connectivity for different biodiversity outcomes in freshwater floodplain lagoons of the Tully–Murray catchment, the subject paper established that floodplain connectivity needs to be taken into consideration in wetland management practices.
4. The timing of the subject publication was fortuitous. It coincided with the preparation of the evidence‐based 2017 Scientific Consensus Statement on land‐based water quality impacts on the GBR. As one of the few freshwater wetland ecology publications for the catchments of the GBR at that time, this paper played an important role in demonstrating freshwater wetland values, fish conservation options, and management imperatives to sustain wetland ecological health and services in GBR catchments.
5. By advancing the understanding of factors driving biodiversity patterns, and the importance of connectivity and ecohydrological processes in freshwater floodplain wetlands of the GBR catchment, the Tully–Murray study helped to drive new policy directives for the protection and restoration of catchment, floodplain, and estuary functions, and connectivity, now embedded in the Reef 2050 Long‐Term Sustainability Plan 2018, an overarching strategy for managing the GBR over the next 35 years, and complementary Queensland environmental legislation.

     

A review of a model for qualitative evaluation of exploitation levels in multi-species fisheries

The fauna of inland waters, especially in the tropics, consist of complex assemblages of numerous species, which are not accessible to analysis by conventional stock assessment methods. The formulation of policies for management and conservation requires alternative models which are capable of predicting the ways in which such assemblages change in response to fishing or other stresses. Historically, models which group species according to simple parameters have proved adequate to provide the level of advice needed to indicate ecosystem health and sustainability of yield from the fishery. Such models have received relatively little attention, and can be profitably further developed and refined. The present review concludes that, out of the various explanatory variables, the mean length of fish caught is one of the most significant together with the numbers of species in the catch and the time taken for catches in fluctuating systems to respond to floods. More complex indicators are based on emergent characteristics of the system such as the production:biomass or predator:prey ratios. Three major strategies are identified for management based on responses of fish assemblages to increases in effort.     

Achieving sustainable aquaculture: Historical and current perspectives and future needs and challenges

Important operational changes that have gradually been assimilated and new approaches that are developing as part of the movement toward sustainable intensive aquaculture production systems are presented via historical, current, and future perspectives. Improved environmental and economic sustainability based on increased efficiency of production continues to be realized. As a result, aquaculture continues to reduce its carbon footprint through reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Reduced use of freshwater and land resources per unit of production, improved feed management practices as well as increased knowledge of nutrient requirements, effective feed ingredients and additives, domestication of species, and new farming practices are now being applied or evaluated. Successful expansion into culture of marine species, both off and on shore, offers the potential of substantial increases in sustainable intensive aquaculture production combined with integrative efforts to increase efficiency will principally contribute to satisfying the increasing global demand for protein and food security needs.     

Bridging the divide: Social–ecological coherence in Marine Protected Area network design

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Aquaculture and the environment: the supply of and demand for environmental goods and services by Asian aquaculture and the implications for sustainability

The present paper explores the relationships between aquaculture and the environment In Asia, focusing on the demands for environmental goods and services among different sectors. Aquaculture in the region accounts for 88% of global production by weight and 80% by value. Nevertheless, environmental problems are increasingly apparent and the higher the demands for environmental goods and services, the more negative the impacts. Against a background of rapid social, economic and political change, the paper considers how the sustainability of the industry is best assured. An integrated view of resource use, in which aquaculture is but one activity, is necessary for sustainable development. The roles of planning, education, research and environmental management schemes are discussed.     

Fair trade fish: consumer support for broader seafood sustainability

Sustainable seafood initiatives began with efforts to promote and certify seafood sourced from well‐managed stocks caught with a reduced impact on the marine environment. More recently, social equity in fisheries has been the subject of increased concern with suggestions that seafood cannot be certified as sustainable if its production results in social harm, such as unfair wages or the use of forced or child labour. Together with local seafood, which has been promoted as an eco‐friendly and socially conscious alternative to globally sourced seafood, these initiatives signal a growing interest in fisheries as a social–ecological system. However, this increasingly complex landscape of environmental sustainability and social justice may be difficult for the public and seafood consumers to navigate. Here, we investigate consumer understanding of and responsiveness to a range of seafood sustainability initiatives by testing preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for seafood across the three types of sustainability: ecological sustainability, local origin and social sustainability. More than half of respondents demonstrated good understandings of both ecological sustainability and social sustainability with respect to seafood, and respondents were willing to pay more for all three types of sustainability. However, WTP for social sustainability benefits was the lowest, and consumers perceived a high degree of overlap of these benefits with those from locally sourced seafood. These results indicate that seafood certification taking a system‐wide approach has potential to succeed, but that it will need to emerge in concert with the increased public education about social problems associated with globalized fisheries.     

Beyond Individual Transferrable Quotas: methodologies for integrating ecosystem impacts of fishing into fisheries catch rights

While there has been a growing concern for the adverse ecological impacts of fishing, progress on incorporating these into operational fisheries management has been slow. Many fisheries management organizations have addressed the problem of overharvesting and over‐capitalization first. In this domain, the question of access regulation has gained growing recognition as a key dimension of fisheries sustainability, leading to recommendation and progressive implementation of rights‐based systems, in particular Individual Transferrable Quotas (ITQs). While adjustments in fishing capacity resulting from the implementation of these systems may entail a reduction in some unwanted ecosystem impacts of fishing, it is also recognized that they will not be sufficient to achieve the ecological outcomes increasingly demanded by the global community. There is thus a need to examine the possibilities for a common management framework for dealing with both over‐capitalization of fisheries and adverse ecological effects of fishing. In this paper, we examine the feasibility of incorporating greater ecosystem goods and services into ITQ policy instruments initially designed with a narrow focus on commercial target species. We consider the advantages and limitations of alternative approaches in this respect and identify some of the practical issues associated with the different alternatives, in particular the underpinning knowledge requirements. We argue that given the need for increasingly streamlined management processes, further investigation into practical ways forward in this domain is crucial if management of fisheries is to achieve economic efficiency while fully encompassing the ecologically sustainable development objectives of ecosystem‐based fisheries management.     

Reconciling traditional inland fisheries management and sustainability in industrialized countries, with emphasis on Europe

In northern industrialized countries, the inland fisheries sector has long been dominated by recreational fisheries, which normally exploit fish for leisure or subsistence and provide many (poorly investigated) benefits to society. Various factors constrain the development and existence of inland fisheries, such as local user conflicts, low social priority and inadequate research and funding. In many cases, however, degradation of the environment and loss of aquatic habitat are the predominant concerns for the sustainability of inland fisheries. The need for concerted effort to prevent and reduce environmental degradation, as well as conservation of freshwater fish and fisheries as renewable common pool resources or entities in their own right is the greatest challenge facing sustainable development of inland waters. In inland fisheries management, the declining quality of the aquatic environment coupled with long‐term inadequate and often inappropriate fisheries management has led to an emphasis on enhancement practices, such as stocking, to mitigate anthropogenic stress. However, this is not always the most appropriate management approach. Therefore, there is an urgent need to alter many traditional inland fisheries management practices and systems to focus on sustainable development. This paper reviews the literature regarding the inputs needed for sustainability of inland fisheries in industrialized countries. To understand better the problems facing sustainable inland fisheries management, the inland fisheries environment, its benefits, negative impacts and constraints, as well as historical management, paradigms, trends and current practices are described. Major philosophical shifts, challenges and promising integrated management approaches are envisaged in a holistic framework. The following are considered key elements for sustainable development of inland fisheries: communication, information dissemination, education, institutional restructuring, marketing outreach, management plans, decision analysis, socioeconomic evaluation and research into the human dimension, in addition to traditional biological and ecological sciences. If these inputs are integrated with traditional fisheries management practices, the prospects for sustainability in the inland fisheries will be enhanced.     

环境变化对湿地植物根系的影响研究

湿地生态系统具有独特的水文特征和潜育化土壤环境,湿地植物在生长过程中往往表现出独特的环境适应机制。根系作为植物重要的功能器官,是湿地植物群落与周围环境实现物质循环与能量流动的关键纽带,在发挥植物的生态功能及维持生态平衡中具有重要作用。因此,近年来植物根系生理生态研究越来越受到关注。从湿地植物根系在植物生长及湿地生态系统中的作用出发,综合论述环境因子对湿地植物根系的影响及作用机制,着重评述近年来水分条件、土壤盐分、土壤养分、有毒有害物质以及其他因子对湿地植物根系生理生态特征的影响等方面的研究进展和亟待解决的问题,指出湿地植物根系研究将是湿地生态学的重要研究方向。     

Policy analysis for tropical marine reserves: challenges and directions

Marine reserves are considered to be a central tool for marine ecosystem‐based management in tropical inshore fisheries. The arguments supporting marine reserves are often based on both the nonmarket values of ecological amenities marine reserves provide and the pragmatic cost‐saving advantages relating to reserve monitoring and enforcement. Marine reserves are, however, only one of a suite of possible policy options that might be used to achieve conservation and fisheries management objectives, and have rarely been the focus of rigorous policy analyses that consider a full range of economic costs and benefits, including the transaction costs of management. If credible analyses are not undertaken, there is a danger that current enthusiasm for marine reserves may wane as economic performance fails to meet presumed potential. Fully accounting for the value of ecological services flowing from marine reserves requires consideration of increased size and abundance of focal species within reserve boundaries, emigration of target species from reserves to adjacent fishing grounds, changes in ecological resilience, and behavioural responses of fishers to spatially explicit closures. Expanding policy assessments beyond standard cost–benefit analysis (CBA) also requires considering the impact of social capital on the costs of managing fisheries. In the short term, the amount of social capital that communities possess and the capacity of the state to support the rights of individuals and communities will affect the relative efficiency of marine reserves. Reserves may be the most efficient policy option when both community and state capacity is high, but may not be when one and/or the other is weak. In the longer term, the level of social capital that a society possesses and the level of uncertainty in ecological and social systems will also impact the appropriate level of devolution or decentralization of fisheries governance. Determining the proper balance of the state and the community in tropical fisheries governance will require broad comparative studies of marine reserves and alternative policy tools.