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Why an ecosystem approach is the wrong paradigm for the next stage of fisheries management

Date

2006-09-13

Authors

Corkett, Christopher J.

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Abstract

Scientists from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) manage groundfish stocks by collecting biomass measurements that are used to provide scientific advice on catch limits. Clearly, if the data is uncertain or incomplete the scientific advice will be uncertain and incomplete. Better decisions come from finding better data, data that are more certain (by removing uncertainty?) or more complete (by taking an ecosystem approach?). However, it is a matter of elementary logic that policy decisions together with goals (such as sustainability) and standards (such as the precautionary principle) cannot be produced from, or be reduced to, facts or data; decisions have to be taken.

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