Dynamical, Bioeconomic Modeling of Fishery Interactions in the Gulf of Maine
Ecosystem-based fisheries managements have been in the works for the better part of the last two decades, but challenges to implementation arise in understanding the coupled nature of fishery interactions. I use a stage-structured model to map the interactions between three economically and ecologic...
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DigitalCommons@UMaine
2013
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| Online Access: | https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/etd/2036 https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3070&context=etd |
| Summary: | Ecosystem-based fisheries managements have been in the works for the better part of the last two decades, but challenges to implementation arise in understanding the coupled nature of fishery interactions. I use a stage-structured model to map the interactions between three economically and ecologically important species: Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) and American lobster (Homarus americanus). I first explore the dynamics of the three-species system by setting up three ecological scenarios: top-down, bottom-up, and a predator-prey loop. Outputs from these ecological scenarios are linked to a simple fisheries model, and I compare the potential profitability over a range of fishery configurations. I find predator-prey interactions to be an important factor regarding the capacity and productivity of a fishery. I uncover the potential for alternate stable states of the three-species bio-economic system, and highlight areas for further development of ecosystem level bioeconomic model. |
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