Fisheries Science and Management: Historical Perspective Chapter 1 (IFM) Thought for today: "You cannot survive if you do not know the past." - Oriana Fallaci, Italian journalist (1929-2006)
Objectives Briefly outline major events important to understanding the history of fisheries management. Compare and contrast the goals of fisheries management in the past and the present.
Quick Discussion Summarize the history of fisheries management (nat. res. mgt.) in North America in a few sentences
Old World <1400-1600 Fish Culture China 5 th century B.C. Advances in Europe and Asia 800-1400 s Resource ownership
New World Colonial North America ~ 1600 mid 1700s Limitless fisheries Public Trust Doctrine States Rights Doctrine
Colonial America (1600 s-1700 s) to mid 1800 s Aggressive resource use
Colonial America (1600 s-1700 s) to mid 1800 s First law in MA 1639
Industrial Revolution and Exploitation: 1800 s Explosion of the Human Population (mostly immigration) and Technology
Industrial Revolution Commercial fishing Alteration of rivers Canning and refrigeration Railroads Clearcutting
Industrial Revolution Increased demand for fish
Fisheries Collapses (1800s) Brook Trout (deforestation, overfishing) Chinook Salmon (overfishing) Atlantic Salmon (overfishing, dams) Sperm Whales (overfishing) Sturgeon (Oregon, overfishing) Atlantic cod (Overfishing, 1990s) Shad, eels, striped bass, ground fish (cod, sole)
Tragedy of the commons (Hardin 1968, Science)
Salmon Fishing (Late 1800 s)
Spruce Forests of WV Circa 1850 Blackwater Chronicles
Moving Trees prior to Railroad Greenbrier River Monongahela River
Blackwater Canyon today
The Blackwater Chronicle
Spruce, WV
Response to Declines 1870: American Fish Culturalists Association 1871: US Commission on Fish and Fisheries Spencer Baird
Response to Declines Hatcheries Regs Propagation Stocking Close fishing Creel limits Did it work?
1. Rainbow Trout (Pacific Slope to Nationwide) 1) Striped Bass (Atlantic Slope to Nationwide) 2) Chinook and Sockeye Salmon (Pacific to Great Lakes) 3) Brown Trout (Europe to North America) 4) Brook Trout (Appalachians and upper Midwest to Rockies) 5) Largemouth Bass (to Western US)
What was not a method used to combat declines in fish stocks early in the history of fish mgt? 1. Biotechnology 2. Stocking 3. Closing fishing 4. Ecosystem management 5. Fish hatcheries
Fisheries Science and Management: Historical Perspective Thought for today: Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. George Santayana, Spanish-American philosopher (1863-1952)
Quick Quiz What is the significance of BOFFFs to fisheries conservation Hints: What does BOFFF stand for? Characterize the young of BOFFFs in contrast to non-bofffs
Protective and Productive Phases Late 1800 s to Early 1900 s Ecological nightmare Preservationists Muir Rise of Conservation Ethic Pinchot and Wise Use (Anthropocentric and Conservationist, famous quote) Leopold - land ethic (1949)
http://www.fs.fed.us/greatestgood/press/mediakit/facts/pinchot.shtml That action is best which accomplishes the greatest happiness for the greatest numbers. -Francis Hutcheson, philosopher (1694-1746) Beginning of conservation movement
Protective and Productive Phases Late 1800 s to Early 1900 s Darwin and Wallace (1858 and 1859) Haeckel 1866 ESA 1915
Productive Phase 1930s Leopold: Game Management 1933 Hubbs and Eschmeyer: The Improvement of Lakes for Fishing: a Method of Fish Management 1937 began fisheries management as a field Haldane, Fisher, Wright 1930s; the new synthesis (i.e., neo-darwinism) W/F management game management Laws and acts: P-R and D-J Acts
Mid 1900 s Environmental Movement Rise of Quantitative Ecology, Population and Trophic Dynamics Theory Filtered into Fisheries Mgt Food chains, food webs, trophic levels, MSY 1960s Rachel Carson 1970s Environmental Decade Balance of Nature idea
Maximum Sustainable Yield Conservationist and anthropocentric Benefits of MSY
Spectacular Failures
Mid 1900 s Lessons to be Learned about MSY 1. Variation in population parameters 2. Influence from environmental factors 3. Lags RIP MSY Larkin 1977 Epitaph to MSY
Current Age Late 1900 s and Early 2000 s ~ 1980s Rise of Ecosystem Management Biodiversity crisis Interconnectedness of ecosystems Human dimensions OSY Based on Leopold s Land Ethic instead of the Wise Use ethic of Pinchot
Late 1900 s and Early 2000 s 2 Principles of Leopold s Ethic 1. Humanity is best served by preserving natural life support systems. 2. Indigenous ecological systems have intrinsic value that should be respected. ANTHROPOCENTRIC and INTRINSIC ETHIC
Late 1900 s and Early 2000 s Modern Fisheries Management as Ecosystem Management Olver et al. 1995 The objective of modern fisheries management should be the protection, maintenance, and rehabilitation of native biota, their habitats, and life-support systems to ensure ecosystem sustainability.
Late 1900 s and Early 2000 s Modern Fisheries Management as Ecosystem Management (Olver et al. 1995) Fundamental Principle Aquatic ecosystems should be managed to ensure the long-term sustainability of native fish stocks
Late 1900 s and Early 2000 s Modern Fisheries Management as Ecosystem Management (Olver et al. 1995) Principles of Ecosystem Protection 1. The sustainability of fish stocks requires protection of the specific physical and chemical habitat utilized by members of that stock. 2. The sustainability of a fish stock requires the maintenance of its supporting native community.
Ecosystem-based Management Papers Olver et al. 1995 Lackey 2001 Link 2002 Bigford 2013 Really!? we are still trying to figure this out!!?? (see Link 2002)