Workshop on Management Implications of Fisheries-induced Evolution

Selective fishing will over time lead to evolution in exploited fish stocks. Research during last years has suggested that such evolution can proceed relatively fast, with significant changes occurring over few decades. In some stocks, there are strong in dications that large changes have already taken place: Northeast Arctic cod are today starting to spawn at least two years earlier age and 30% lighter than they did in the early 20th century. Fisheries-induced evolution may make fish stock more vulnerable to environmental change, and it is likely to reduce sustainable catches and quality of the catch (mean fish size), ultimately influencing profitability of the fishing industry. Today's approach to sustainable exploitation ignores this evolutionary deter ioration that may occur. Concern about fisheries-induced evolution is relatively new, and there is still considerable uncertainty regarding how serious its consequences are, and how fast the negative impacts accrue. However, precautionary principle sugges ts that cost-effective actions should be undertaken, given that fisheries-induced evolution is likely to be difficult to reverse. It is time for scientists and resource managers to come together to discuss the challenges posed by fisheries-induced evolut ion. Fisheries-induced evolution will never been the prime focus of fisheries management, but we cannot afford to ignore it either: fisheries-induced evolution is another consideration that must be factored in when trying to ensure sustainable fisheries a nd viability of fishing industry and coastal communities, while at the same time respecting international agreements relating to conservation and exploitation of living marine resources. Norway is a good place to start this dialogue, given the importance of the marine sector to the country and strong commitment to sustainable exploitation.