What is fishery science and management? Why is it important to MPA design?
Fisheries are among America’s oldest industries and part of our nation’s history and commercial vitality. They are managed jointly by NOAA Fisheries and the regional fishery management councils. NOAA Fisheries determines, through scientific research, best fishing practices and regulations to produce sustainable fisheries for individual stocks. Despite these efforts, fishery populations declined through the 1990s, with devastating collapses on both coasts. No-take marine reserves are one type of MPA that have been promoted as an effective fishery management tool because they have been proven to restore and protect ecosystem integrity by increasing biodiversity and the number and sizes of species within their boundaries. There is uncertainty, however, about impacts on current and future yields outside a marine reserve where fishing is still allowed. The U.S. currently lacks practical information on how increases in numbers of species in a marine reserve will effect fishery stocks both in
