Evolving Context and Maturing Science: Aquaculture-Based Enhancement and Restoration Enter the Marine Fisheries Management Toolbox

Abstract

Aquaculture-based enhancement of marine fisheries includes sea ranching, stock enhancement, and restocking. A rapidly evolving context and maturing science base have effectively put these approaches into the fisheries management toolbox. Among the contextual factors are (1) a rapid expansion of captive breeding and domestication to new marine species, (2) fisheries governance systems that address the common dilemma, and (3) global environmental change impacts on coastal fisheries that increasingly call for active approaches to maintaining or increasing fisheries yields and ecosystem services. The science base of marine restocking, stock enhancement, and sea ranching continues to advance rapidly and has now reached a point where it is becoming possible to assess the likely contribution of such approaches to fisheries management goals prior to major investments being undertaken and to design enhancement programs effectively and responsibly where good potential is judged to exist. This signifies an important transition of marine fisheries enhancement from an exploratory, research-oriented endeavor to a tool in the fisheries management tool box.