Reducing eutrophication increases spatial extent of communities supporting commercial fisheries: a model case study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Reducing eutrophication increases spatial extent of communities supporting commercial fisheries

T2 - a model case study

AU - Bauer, Barbara

AU - Meier, H.E. Markus

AU - Casini, Michele

AU - Hoff, Ayoe

AU - Margonski, Piotr

AU - Orio, Alessandro

AU - Saraiva, Sofia

AU - Steenbeek, Jeroen

AU - Tomczak, Maciej T.

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - In this study we investigate if eutrophication management has the potential to substantially affect which areas are going to be most suitable for commercial fishing in the future. We use a spatial ecosystem model, forced by a coupled physical-biogeochemical model, to simulate the spatial distribution of functional groups within a marine ecosystem, which depends on their respective tolerances to abiotic factors, trophic interactions, and fishing. We simulate the future long-term spatial developments of the community composition and their potential implications for fisheries under three different nutrient management scenarios and changing climate. The three nutrient management scenarios result in contrasting developments of bottom oxygen concentrations and phytoplankton abundance, with substantial effects on fish production. Nutrient load reduction increases the spatial extent of the areas suitable for the commercially most valuable demersal fish predator and all types of fisheries. This suggests that strategic planning of fishery management strategies could benefit from considering future changes in species distributions due to changes in eutrophication. We show that combining approaches from climate research, physical oceanography, biogeochemistry, biogeography, and trophic ecology with economical information provides a strong foundation to produce scientific knowledge that can support a multisectoral management of ecosystems.

AB - In this study we investigate if eutrophication management has the potential to substantially affect which areas are going to be most suitable for commercial fishing in the future. We use a spatial ecosystem model, forced by a coupled physical-biogeochemical model, to simulate the spatial distribution of functional groups within a marine ecosystem, which depends on their respective tolerances to abiotic factors, trophic interactions, and fishing. We simulate the future long-term spatial developments of the community composition and their potential implications for fisheries under three different nutrient management scenarios and changing climate. The three nutrient management scenarios result in contrasting developments of bottom oxygen concentrations and phytoplankton abundance, with substantial effects on fish production. Nutrient load reduction increases the spatial extent of the areas suitable for the commercially most valuable demersal fish predator and all types of fisheries. This suggests that strategic planning of fishery management strategies could benefit from considering future changes in species distributions due to changes in eutrophication. We show that combining approaches from climate research, physical oceanography, biogeochemistry, biogeography, and trophic ecology with economical information provides a strong foundation to produce scientific knowledge that can support a multisectoral management of ecosystems.

KW - Ecopath with ecosim

KW - ecospace

KW - ecosystem restoration

KW - eutrophication

KW - fisheries

KW - nutrient management

KW - simulation model

KW - spatial distribution

KW - ecopath with ecosim

U2 - 10.1093/icesjms/fsy003

DO - 10.1093/icesjms/fsy003

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1054-3139

VL - 75

SP - 1306

EP - 1317

JO - I C E S Journal of Marine Science

JF - I C E S Journal of Marine Science

IS - 4

ER -