A Fresh Perspective for Marine Fisheries: Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management in the Laurentian Great Lakes

Abstract

Both freshwater and saltwater fisheries are complex socio-ecological systems that are integral to the lives of those who live in them. However, there is little effort or attention being paid to the differences and similarities between the management of freshwater and saltwater fisheries. If there are similarities between the systems as a whole then how do the management regimes between freshwater and saltwater fisheries compare? Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM) is one form of management that we can use to gain insight into the progress of fisheries management in freshwater systems in comparison to management in saltwater systems. Because the Great Lakes management bodies have been considering and working with an EBFM style of management for longer than saltwater institutions they can provide insight in developing the EBFM approach being taken by federal fisheries. Likewise federal fisheries can advance the Great Lakes management bodies in terms of habitat protection and stock status assessments and management.