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Ocean triads and radical interdecadal variation: bane and boon to scientific fisheries management

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Reinventing Fisheries Management

Part of the book series: Fish & Fisheries Series ((FIFI,volume 23))

Abstract

Recent large-amplitude interdecadal-scale population variations in some of the world’s largest fishery stocks have exhibited a remarkable degree of global synchrony. This leads to several conclusions: (1) on these scales, the individual regional fish communities are not driven entirely by their own autonomous dynamics; (2) the biological linkages must therefore be quite simple; (3) the problem of radical interdecadal fish stock variability would consequently appear to be eminently solvable. A ‘fundamental triad’ of enrichment, concentration and retention processes, augments the trophic energy in supporting biological processes with the mechanical energy of the earth’s ocean—atmosphere system. Examples of such triad configurations in coastal upwelling regions may help scientific understanding of some crucial fisheries issues. The idea that experimental adaptive management could proceed effectively without a well-founded system of accounting for natural environmental variability is challenged.

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Bakun, A. (1998). Ocean triads and radical interdecadal variation: bane and boon to scientific fisheries management. In: Pitcher, T.J., Pauly, D., Hart, P.J.B. (eds) Reinventing Fisheries Management. Fish & Fisheries Series, vol 23. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4433-9_25

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4433-9_25

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