Fundamentals of Fisheries

Resource Management

Ramon Carcamo
Fisheries Expert
Fisheries Resources
 Organic resources are the same limited resources as
mineral ones. If we exhausted mineral resources,
mineral resources will run out. But, as organic
resources have reproductive mechanism and differ
from mineral resources, we can make the best use of
organic resources for permanent utilization by
applying their reproductive mechanism.
 Fisheries resources is also organic resources,
therefore, we have to consider permanent utilization
of them by applying the mechanism.
 Pillage fisheries will extinguish not only fisheries
resources but also fisheries themselves.
Features of the fisheries resources
Mineral Resources Non-renewable
(Oil, Coal, etc. ---)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Organic [Living] Resources

(Fish, shrimp, etc.---) Reproductive Capability

Appropriate Fisheries No Management for

Resource Management Fisheries Resources

Sustainable Use of Depleted Fisheries

(Fisheries) Resources Resources
Características de los Recursos Pesqueros
Recursos minerales No-renovables
(Gasolina, carbón, etc. ---)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Recursos orgánicos [Vivientes]

(Peces, camarones, etc.---) Reproductive
Capacidad Reproductiva
Capability

Apropiado Manejo del Ningún Manejo para

Recurso Pesquero el Recurso Pesquero

Uso Sostenible del Recurso Disminución del

(Pesquero) Recurso Pesquero
Fisheries Resources
 Looking back the history on utilization and
development of fisheries resources, the necessity of
permanent utilization is quite obvious.
 The major aim of fisheries resources conservation
and management strategies is to make possible of
permanent utilization of the resources.
 We must grasp the strategies of fisheries resources
conservation and management from three aspects.
 The first aspect is a biological aspect, the second is a
fisheries aspect, and the third is a economic aspect.
Biological Aspect: Growth law and survival law
Growth Curve

Number or Weight

Survival Curve

Age
 The growth law shows the corresponding body
weight increases as the cohort ages. WHILE,
 The survival law demonstrates the decline in survival
as a function of the age of the cohort.
 Biological Aspect: Biomass curve
X

Number or Weight

Age
 In the natural environment, the relationship of the two
laws can be shown as a biomass curve.
 The first half of the curve draws an exponential growth
in total body weight of fish and as maturity is reached
the maximum biomass , and will be at Point X.
 Beyond this point little growth occurs and natural
mortality begins to set in.
 Simplified migration circuit

Adult Stock

Migration Recruitment

Migration /
Drifting

Spawning Area Nursery Area

 For maintain the resources on target species, proper

measures for protection of nursery and spawning
areas should be taken.
Fisheries Aspect: Selectivity curve
1.0

Mesh Selectivity
0.5

0.0

Body Size Y

The selectivity curve is influenced by mesh size whereby as mesh

size decreases, the curve moves to the left resulting in a smaller-
sized catch.
Increasing the mesh size shifts the curve to the right, thus
yielding a larger-sized catch. To maximize a catch, mesh size
targeting the desired individuals should be used.
 Fisheries Aspect: Discontinuous
selectivity of an ideal gear
1.0

Commercial sized
Mesh Selectivity 0.5
fishes caught
No smaller fishes caught
0.0
Body Size

 Previous mentioned relationship is drawn as a

discontinuous selectivity curve (ideal gear if
available)
Fisheries Aspect: Selectivity curve
of diamond and square mesh
1.0

Diamond Mesh
Mesh Selectivity

0.5
Square Mesh

0.0
Body Size

 The mesh type is equally important as illustrated in above.

 At a given mesh size, square mesh is more effective in catching

larger-sized fish than a diamond mesh.

 In practice, this is a useful technique in catch selectivity.

Economic Aspect: Relationship
between cost and Yield
MSY
Cost
Amount of Money MEY

Yield

Fishing Effort

MSY: Maximum Sustainable Yield

MEY: Maximum Economic Yield

 Fisheries Resource Management
Objective
System in General

Target point at the time

Observation of present state

Evaluation of the difference from the target

point

Judgment of method to approach target

point

Decision on measure to be taken

Fisheries resource management at the target area

Monitoring of results

Scientific research
Flow chart of the measures for sustainable use
of the fisheries resources
Fishermen want to catch fish, shrimp,
Fishermen (Fishers)
shellfish, etc. as possible as they can.

Appropriate fisheries
management measures have
to be promoted for
sustainable use of the
fisheries resources. Paid the heavy effort for the
fisheries resources without
management measures.

Establish Fisheries Resource

Management Committee.
Depleted fisheries resources
Policy maker

Researcher
Fishermen can’t be survived as
Fisheries industry fishermen & no fish will be provided
to the consumers.
Intelligent persons in the fisheries science
Diagrama de flujo de las medidas para un uso
sostenible de los Recursos Pesqueros
El pescador quiere capturar peces,
Pescador (Pescadores) camarones, moluscos, etc. tantos como
ellos puedan.
Apropiadas
Appropriate medidas
fisheries
de
management
manejo pesquero
measures
debenhave
ser
to
promovidas
be promoted
para un uso for
sustainable de use
sostenible los recursos
of the
fisheries resources.
pesqueros. Pago por el fuerte esfuerzo
por los recursos pesqueros
sin medidas de manejo.

Establecen un Comité de Manejo de

los Recursos Pesqueros.
Disminución de los recursos
pesqueros
Vigilancia

Investigación
Pescador no puede sobrevivir como
Industria pesquera tal y los peces no son suministrados
a los consumidores.
Personas Inteligentes en la Ciencia pesquera
Major information needed for
fisheries resource management
 (ⅰ) Biological Information
 (ⅱ) Technical Information
 (ⅲ) Economic Information
 (ⅳ) Social Information and
 (ⅴ) Institutional Information
– Source: FAO, RAPA Rep., 1987/10
 Information mentioned above is obtained from
many sources such as universities, extension
agents and so on.
For the more effective use of sources of
information and increasing supply to information, some
possible approaches suggested are as follow:

 (ⅰ) Increasing contact with fishermen by

facilitating establishment of fishermen’s
groups or organizations or by making
greater use of extension agents.

 (ⅱ) Improved communication between

decision-makers and scientists through the
establishment of consultative meetings etc.
For the more effective use of sources of information:

 (ⅲ) Better coordination between fisheries

statistical services and other government
agencies.

 (ⅳ) Integrating the collection of economic

and social data into catch assessment
surveys.
For the more effective use of sources of information:
 (ⅴ) Development and testing of surrogate-
indicators for detailed information (e.g., changes
in shares paid for labour or in lease fees for
vessels as indicators of health of fisheries).

 (ⅵ) Greater involvement of universities in multi-

disciplinary fisheries research of direct relevance
for decision-making.

 (ⅶ) Improved contacts between private fishing

industry and fishery administrators.

 (ⅷ) Others.
An example of ‘Process of formulation of fisheries resource management plan’ is shown as follows (FAO, RAPA Rep., 1987/10)

DEFINE THE FISHERY

- GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES
- FISHING METHODS
- FISH SPECIES (ONLY IF ESSENTIAL)

ESTABLISH AN INDUSTRY/GOVERNMENT TASK FORCE

DETERMINE THE OBJECTIVE FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE FISHERY

CONSOLIDATE AND ANALYSE AVAILABLE BIOLOGICAL, ECONOMIC AND LICENSING

INFORMATON

PREPARE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS PAPER SETTING OUT:

- DESCRIPTION OF FISHERY
- OBJECTIVES
- ASSESSMENT OF BIOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC DATA
- ASSESSMENT OF MANAGEMENT OPTIONS UNDER FOLLOWING HEADINGS
.. OPEN ACCESS
.. TAXES ON INPUTS OR OUTPUTS
.. LIMITED ENTRY
.. INDIVIDUAL TRANSFERABLE QUOTAS

DRAFT MANAGEMENT PROPOSALS FOR CONSIDERATION BY INDUSTRY

SUBMISSION O RECOMMENDATIONS TO GOVERNMENT

ESTABLISHMENT OF INDUSTRY/GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

IMPLEMENTATION OF MANAGEMENT PLAN

ONGOING EVALUATION OF MANAGEMENT PLAN AND INTRODUCTION OF

ADDITIONAL MANAGEMENT MEASURES
Fisheries Resource Management Ideas for Small-scale Fisheries

Fishery Biology

Stock Assessment

Policy and Measures

Interaction of
Fisheries Resource Enhancement

Fisheries Statistics
Items should be done for the stock assessment and fisheries
resource management for the small-scale fisheries is as
follow (Modified from Saila and Roedel, 1979):

(ⅰ) Collaborative Research, First Priority

 ① Comparative Studies – Productivity

 ② Comparative Studies - Catch
 ③ Comparative Assessment Models
 ④ Policy and Decision-making Structures
 ⑤ Biosocioeconomic Models
Items should be done for the stock assessment and fisheries
resource management for the small-scale fisheries is as
follow (Modified from Saila and Roedel, 1979):

(ⅱ) Collaborative Research, Second Priority

 ① Data Analysis Systems

 ② Surveys – Direct Census
 ③ Surveys - Acoustics
Items should be done for the stock assessment and fisheries
resource management for the small-scale fisheries is as
follow (Modified from Saila and Roedel, 1979):

(ⅲ) Collaborative Research, Third Priority

 ① Age and Growth Studies

 ② Surveys – Remote Sensing
 ③ Surveys – Capture
 ④ Surveys – Eggs and Larvae
Items should be done for the stock assessment and fisheries
resource management for the small-scale fisheries is as
follow (Modified from Saila and Roedel, 1979):

(ⅳ) Supportive Research Activities

 ① Inventory of Exploited Resources

 ② Inventory of Human and Institutional Resources
 ③ Inventory of Ecosystem Response
 ④ Inventory of Life Histories
 ⑤ Surveys - Effort
Items should be done for the stock assessment and fisheries
resource management for the small-scale fisheries is as
follow (Modified from Saila and Roedel, 1979):

(ⅴ) Supportive Development Activities

① Information Dissemination
 ② Training - Data
 Stock Structure: Single-species
STOCK I
(Single-species) Resource evaluation on Stock I

Biological features on Species A

Regional Species A
Form a

Regional

(Resource evaluation on Form a) Form b

Biological features on Form a

Biological features on Form b

Discrimination between Form a and Form b
(Resource evaluation on Form
b)
 Stock Structure: Multi-species
S T O C K II
(Multi-species)
Resource evaluation
on Stock II

Species Species
B C

Biological features on
Biological features on Species B Species C

(Resource evaluation on Species (Resource evaluation on Species

B) C)
Stock Discrimination

The stock or shoal discrimination

studies are mainly based on the
followings:
 Morphology
 Ecology
 Catch fluctuation
 Genetics
Stock Discrimination
Stock characters are as follows:

 Body length and weight composition

 Growth rate
 Age composition
 Fatness
 Egg-diameter
 Fecundity
 Scale features
Stock Discrimination
Stock characters are as follows:

 Ratio of body measurements

 Meristic characters
 Serum protein
 Karyotypes
 Isozymes
 Mitochondria DNA
Parameters/Elements for
Biological Features of Fish
Popular parameters/elements for biological
features are as follow:
 ① Geographic limits to the stock
 ② Migration pattern
 ③ Depth distribution
 ④ Size composition (mean length in catch,
maximum length and maturity size)
 ⑤ Spawning (season and area)
Parameters/Elements for
Biological Features of Fish
Popular parameters/elements for biological
features are as follow:
 ⑥ Nursery ground
 ⑦ Fecundity
 ⑧ Recruitment (season and body size)
 ⑨ Growth (growth rate)
 ⑩ Length-weight relationship
Parameters/Elements for
Biological Features of Fish
Popular parameters/elements for biological
features are as follow:
 ⑪ Mortality
 ⑫ Age and age determination
 ⑬ Sex ratio
 ⑭ Food and feeding habit
 ⑮ Predators
Parameters/Elements for
Biological Features of Fish
 Additionally, meristic characters such as
number of vertebrae, number of fin spines
and rays, number of mid-lateral scales and
so on are very important elements, and
morphometric characters are also important
for the features of stock of fish.
Identification of Parameters for Studies on
Stock and Population Dynamics

 ① Length-weight relationship:
– Paired data of length and weight are required.
– Data are obtained from measurements of fish
body.
 ② Growth curve:
– Paired data of age and length are required.
– Analyse age and measurements of fish body.
Identification of Parameters for Studies on
Stock and Population Dynamics

 ③ Natural mortality coefficient:

– Longevity (analyse age, etc.), growth equation (analyse
age and fish body measurements), tagging data (analyse
recapture data) and data of virgin stock (survey in
unexploited area) are required.
 ④ Fishing mortality coefficient:
– Age composition (analyse age), catch and effort (obtain
from operation record) and tagging data (analyse
recapture data) are required.
Identification of Parameters for Studies on
Stock and Population Dynamics

 ⑤ Longevity:
– Growth, sex ratio, survival rate, etc. are
required.
– Analyse age, sex and etc.
 ⑥ Availability:
– Species list and catch composition are required.
– Data are obtained from Fish Market Census or
direct observation of fish market.
Identification of Parameters for Studies on
Stock and Population Dynamics

 ⑦ Reproductive mechanism:
– Information on recruitment-parent relationship
is required.
– Analyse age composition data for many years.
 ⑧ Sex ratio:
– Frequency distribution of each sex is required.
– Analyse numbers of male and female
determined by gonad.
Identification of Parameters for Studies on
Stock and Population Dynamics

 ⑨ Maturity rate:
– Frequency distribution of gonad index is
required.
– Examine the gonads.
 ⑩ Number of spawned eggs:
– Number of incubation and spawning eggs is
required.
– Examine the ovaries.
Identification of Parameters for Studies on
Stock and Population Dynamics

 ⑪ Age composition:
– Frequency distribution of body length is
required.
– Analyse age and body length frequency. Age
determination method is required.
 ⑫ Population index:
– Fish density of each area is required.
– Data are obtained from experimental surveys.
Identification of Parameters for Studies on
Stock and Population Dynamics

 ⑬ Effective overall fishing intensity:

– Fish density of each area is required.
– Data are obtained from experimental surveys.
 ⑭ Catchability coefficient:
– Selectivity and escape rate are required.
– Data are obtained from experimental surveys.
Identification of Parameters for Studies on
Stock and Population Dynamics

 ⑮ Selectivity:
– Mesh size selectivity data are required.
– Data are obtained from experimental surveys.

 ⑯ Escape rate:
– Hypothetical experiment is required.
Identification of Parameters for Studies on
Stock and Population Dynamics

 ⑰ Density of area:
– Experimental survey is required.

 ⑱ Catch per year:

– Fisheries statistics is required.
Possible Measures for Fisheries Management
(Closed Season)

 During this period

 Fishing activities are prohibited
 To protect spawning adults during the
spawning season
 Or
 To rehabilitate depleted stocks
Possible Measures for Fisheries Management
(Closed Area)

 An area/habitat is closed to fishing activities,

 For example, to protect spawning grounds
or juveniles
 This does not affect fishing effort
 It can be relocated to other areas
 But it can limit its effectiveness on fishing
effort
Possible Measures for Fisheries Management
(Fishing Gear and Methods)

 Certain types of fishing gear will be

prohibited
 Also the number of fishing gear will be
restricted on this scheme
 Mesh size restriction for certain fishing
gear is also one of the popular measures
Possible Measures for Fisheries Management
(Size Limit)

 On the fishing and selling of fish

 Under a set size limit must be prohibited
 For conserving the resources
 Fish caught less than a set size limit
 It must be released into the sea
 At good condition.
Possible Measures for Fisheries Management
(Fishing Sub-gear)

 Fishing sub-gear such as fish luring (aggregative)

lamp
 It is sometimes restricted of its electric power
 Intensity of the lamps tends to be strengthened
gradually in order to get more catches
 But intensity of lamps is strengthened,
catchability is not improved so much
 Regulations regarding such fishing sub-gear is
necessary to avoid excessive competitions among
fishermen.
Possible Measures for Fisheries Management
(Total Catch by Species)

 Stemming from the international law of the sea,

as of November 1993, a country may set a total
allowable catch (TAC) of the total catch by
species as its upper limit.
 Other countries, therefore, may only catch the
difference between the TAC and actual catches,
thus limiting the catches beyond the TAC.
 Catch quota system is also one of the methods of
restriction of the catches.
Possible Measures for Fisheries Management
(Boat and Operation)

 Capacity for Number of Fishing Boats and

Duration of Fishing Operations
 Many fishing activities are regulated by a
licensing system
 This is direct control on the level of exploitation
 Because, catches can be significantly increased
when there is an increase in efficiency and
operation frequencies
Fundamentals of Fisheries
Resource Management

Thank You