Back to search

MARINFORSK-Marine ressurser og miljø

Addressing uncertainty in FISHeries management in a zooplankton-fish COMmunity under human-induced perturbations (FISHCOM)

Alternative title: Usikkerheter knyttet til fiskeriforvaltning i et samfunn av dyreplankton og fisk under menneskeskapte endringer (FISHCOM)

Awarded: NOK 7.5 mill.

There is considerable uncertainty associated with the management of marine resources. In this project, we have investigated how uncertainties can affect our ability to maintain healthy and sustainable management of these resources in the face of changes in the environment. Such changes may be due, for example, to oil activities. We have worked on developing new strategies for the management of the stock of cod in the Barents Sea in response to a mass mortality event in early life. Moreover, we have worked on quantifying how uncertainty related to the model structure may affect the dynamics of the ecosystem. Models that aim to describe the dynamics of the same species do not necessarily yield coherent results, and this can result in different management strategies. Such differences can be due to different focus and precession of the various models. In this context, we have compared the output of two contrasting models, one fairly simple and one with high complexity. Applying these two models has allowed us to quantify some of the uncertainty associated with the model structure. Furthermore, we are developing bio-economic models to increase our understanding of how humans respond to change in the marine ecosystem with a focus on climate change. In this context, we have conducted economic experiments that will give us valuable knowledge that can help ensure the continued good management of marine resources.

Prosjektet har tillat økt samarbeid på tvers av disiplin, med mye samarbeid mellom økologer og økonomer. Prosjektet har også gjort det mulig for flere unge forskere å jobbe med viktige problemer og fremmet sin vitenskaplige karriere. Dette gjelder spesielt Post.Doctoren som jobbet på prosjektet. Både resultater om relatert til endring i høstingstrategier etter en massedødlighetsthendelse i tidlig liv for fish og usikkerheter som skylles modell-struktur kan være nyttige i et forvaltningsperspektiv. Prosjektet legger også til rette for vidresammarbeid mellom partnerene som var med i fra starten, men også med nye forskere som har kommet inn underveis.

In this project we address the uncertainties associated with the management of marine resources. The project is structured in three inter-connected work packages (WPs) and addresses the full bio-economic range from the lower trophic levels though commercially important fish up to human behavior. In the first WP, we will investigate different management strategies accounting for uncertainty associated with harvesting at lower trophic levels and mass mortality events. We explore different management strategies for mitigation of economic loss due to mass mortality events at early life stages of fish. Next we will explore possible consequences on fish stocks of harvesting at lower trophic levels using Krill and Calanus in the Barents Sea as study system. In the second WP, we will address the inherent uncertainty connected to choice of model structure. By investigating yield-optimizing harvesting in a suite of different population and community models, we will be able to quantify the effect of model uncertainty on management scenarios. In the third WP, we will develop better models for resource dynamics in bio-economic models to increase our understanding of the human response to a sudden shift in the marine ecosystem. Finally, we will conduct an economic experiment, were we aim to better understand how the human response to sudden shifts depends on their own ability to prevent the shift.

Publications from Cristin

No publications found

No publications found

No publications found

Funding scheme:

MARINFORSK-Marine ressurser og miljø