An Attempt to Evaluate the Recent Management Regulations of the East Atlantic and Mediterranean Bluefin Tuna Stock Through a Simple Simulation Model
Year: 2008
Type: article
Abstract: This manuscript proposes a simple simulation model to investigate the implications to the resources of the recent management regulations adopted for the East Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna stock. If perfectly implemented, the new regulations on minimum size and closed fishing areas mostly lead to a\nchange in the selectivity pattern which moves towards older fish, so decreasing growth-overfishing. The potential sustainable yields therefore considerably increase (almost double in comparison to those that would be obtained without the new regulations) while the SSB can rapidly reach 20% of the virgin SSB. An error of 20% in the implementation of these new regulations affects their efficiencies and does not seem to allow the rebuilding of the SSB at a safe level. A significant increase in fishing mortality on older fish (ages 5+), due to the partial redeployment of the fisheries, affect even more strongly the rebuilding of the SSB. In conclusion, the new regulations may appear sufficient to rebuild the SSB to a level > 20% of the virgin SSB, if (and only if) they are perfectly implemented and don’t generate any increase in the fishing effort on older fish. In other words, control over all the fisheries that target BFT in the East Atlantic and the Mediterranean is probably the key of the edifice.
Author: Jean‐Marc Fromentin
Language: English
Subfield: Aquatic Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Life below water
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2121682655