Ecosystem Effects of Invertebrate Fisheries

Authors

Tyler D. Eddy, Dalhousie University
Heike K. Lotze, Dalhousie University
Elizabeth A. Fulton, CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere, Hobart
Marta Coll, Institut de Recherché pour le Développement (IRD)
Cameron H. Ainsworth, University of South FloridaFollow
Júlio Neves Araújo, Departamento de Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória
Catherine M. Bulman, CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere, Hobart
Alida Bundy, Bedford Institute of Oceanography
Villy Christensen, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries
John C. Field, Fisheries Ecology Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Santa Cruz
Neil A. Gribble, James Cook University
Mejs Hasan, Chesapeake Bay Office, Cooperative Oxford Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National Marine Fisheries Service, Oxford
Steve Mackinson, Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), Lowestoft
Howard Townsend, Chesapeake Bay Office, Cooperative Oxford Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National Marine Fisheries Service, Oxford

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2017

Keywords

Ecological indicators, Ecopath with Ecosim, ecosystem-based fisheries management, functional roles, invertebrate exploitation, trophic impacts

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12165

Abstract

Since the 1950s, invertebrate fisheries catches have rapidly expanded globally to more than 10 million tonnes annually, with twice as many target species, and are now significant contributors to global seafood provision, export, trade and local livelihoods. Invertebrates play important and diverse functional roles in marine ecosystems, yet the ecosystem effects of their exploitation are poorly understood. Using 12 ecosystem models distributed worldwide, we analysed the trade-offs of various invertebrate fisheries and their ecosystem effects as well as ecological indicators. Although less recognized for their contributions to marine food webs, our results show that the magnitude of trophic impacts of invertebrates on other species of commercial and conservation interest is comparable with those of forage fish. Generally, cephalopods showed the strongest ecosystem effects and were characterized by a strong top-down predatory role. Lobster, and to a lesser extent, crabs, shrimp and prawns, also showed strong ecosystem effects, but at lower trophic levels. Benthic invertebrates, including epifauna and infauna, also showed considerable ecosystem effects, but with strong bottom-up characteristics. In contrast, urchins, bivalves, and gastropods showed generally lower ecosystem effects in our simulations. Invertebrates also strongly contributed to benthic–pelagic coupling, with exploitation of benthic invertebrates impacting pelagic fishes and vice versa. Finally, on average, invertebrates produced maximum sustainable yield at lower levels of depletion (~45%) than forage fish (~65%), highlighting the need for management targets that avoid negative consequences for target species and marine ecosystems as a whole.

Was this content written or created while at USF?

Yes

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Fish and Fisheries, v. 18, issue 1, p. 40-53

Scholar Commons Citation

Eddy, Tyler D.; Lotze, Heike K.; Fulton, Elizabeth A.; Coll, Marta; Ainsworth, Cameron H.; Araújo, Júlio Neves; Bulman, Catherine M.; Bundy, Alida; Christensen, Villy; Field, John C.; Gribble, Neil A.; Hasan, Mejs; Mackinson, Steve; and Townsend, Howard, "Ecosystem Effects of Invertebrate Fisheries" (2017). Marine Science Faculty Publications. 1855.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/1855