A Testable Hypothesis for Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management

A hierarchical concept of ecosystems offers a testable, refutable hypothesis for the structure and function of ecosystems that could be a solid foundation for ecosystems-based fisheries management. It could focus fisheries management priorities and has the potential for simplifying data requirements and management tactics. The fundamentals of the concept are summarized here and relevance for management is outlined. The concept suggests that maintaining natural constraints—the inherent robustness of mature systems—in fisheries systems is more likely to achieve stability and predictability in fisheries systems than are traditional management tactics.