Fishery science: the study of fishery systems

Abstract

The pursuit of sustainable fisheries requires a broad vision of fishery science - as the scientific study of fishery systems. This implies the incorporation into fishery science of research on fishery management, fishing processes, fisher behaviour and the human dynamics of fishery systems. Such research requires (a) more extensive multidisciplinary linkages, with an increased role for economic and social science research, and (b) more day-to-day linkages between people, namely those involved in fishery science and in management, together with fishery stakeholders. This paper reviews potential directions for fisheries research, and suggests a corresponding range of multidisciplinary research priorities, focused on analysis of: (a) the fishery management system, at both strategic and operational levels, (b) fisher behaviour and response to regulations, (c) "human dynamics" in fisheries, and (d) fishery systems modelling.