• Carl Burger (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Maine, USA…and our past President, WDAFS & AFS) – “A Global Perspective on Sustaining Fisheries in the 21^st Century: Transitioning Beyond existing Paradigms to an Integrated, Ecosystem Approach”

World fisheries yield 90 million metric tons of fish per year (over 70% of the world’s commercial fish production) and play key roles in global food and income. Marine fisheries have long been driven by single-species management strategies in attempts to maximize yields without compromising future catches. However, single-species approaches overlook ecological linkages and interactions, and the ability of marine environments to sustain multi-species fisheries. Hence, some populations have been fished to collapse and others have become economically inefficient, often with consequences for non-target populations. Our science and management must operate in harmony with established ecological principles, if we are to conserve fisheries and avoid the declines of the past. Fishery professionals must also harmonize approaches for solving ecosystem-level problems. Most importantly, we must be willing to consider new approaches that (1) improve our capabilities and skills in multidisciplinary fisheries science, and (2) embrace new conservation paradigms that involve fishers and avoid managing species as if they existed in a vacuum. The recently revived World Council of Fisheries Societies can be a key global voice for helping implement such visions, and for uniting our professionals, fishers, and policymakers in ways that promote healthy world fisheries in the 21st century.

• Ambassador Gilbert Parent (Canadian Ambassador for the Environment) – “Managing Marine Fisheries in a Changing Climate: Approaches for Achieving Fisheries Sustainability”

 

• Dr. Salvador Contreras-Balderas – “Status and Opportunities for Sustainable Fisheries in Mexico.”

Sustainability of natural resources is a controversial issue of fisheries in Mexico as worldwide, especially in its relation to the paradigm of biodiversity. Naturalists think of such sustainability as based on biodiversity management, and when referred to continental areas it is converted to ecosystem/basin management. I have seen and have taken part on the movement to change the standard exotic fish culture to endemic fish stocking, strongly marked in trouts, or the ecosystem/basin based management. The conflict is strong in Mexico, where there is ample use of carp and tilapia, reflecting the needs of producing food for the low income people. Collapses of tilapia and contradictory criteria on their treatment in some reservoirs call for reevaluation of their use in fisheries. Since 1991 a strong group of Mexican aquaculturists has been domesticating native fishes with acceptable success, although not as impressing as the exotics mentioned. However, native fish culture is much less threat to biodiversity. On the other hand, the prices of such native species is higher than for the exotics. In the marine areas, the problem is different. There is need to develop fishing methods or gear with less impact on stocks and habitat, as reflected by the changes in tuna fishing to protect dolphins and turtles, or shrimp to reduce catch of young individuals. The main areas for protection along shallow seas are mangrove swamps, where many species spend their initial stages, conflicting with tourism recreation units, built or planned. High seas fishing should be cared for by multinational consortia in macroregions, and not by single countries. The challenges are in reaching an efficient use, low impact gear, and balancing the activities between use and protection, or true sustainability. Another research interest is evaluation of fisheries as related to climate change, true in both realms: freshwater and marine. Fish faunas of some rivers are moving up, cool water forms climbing to lower temperature areas, and the correlated move of warm water fish invading upstream to the now more favorable regions. In the seas the movements are similar, although best known due to the effects attributed to El Niño. Finally, it has been long known that rivers are the roots of the oceans, carrying nutrients to the shallow seas first. However, many rivers now provide less water and nutrients, and more salt and other pollutants, with still unmeasured impacts. In the beginning of the third millenium the challenges are many and big, the needs are high, and the solution should rest in more research, multidisciplinary and often multinational integral schemes, and firmly based proofs of sustainability. Such multinational programs should be just, equitable, balanced, based on carrying capacity of ecosystems regardless of national jurisdictions, and providing due protection for indefinite usability. The rapacious simple schemes should be erradicated.

• Bill Hammond (Florida Gulf Coast University – Florida, USA) – “Fishing the Edges of the Turning Tide to Develop Partnerships that Protect World Fisheries in a Period of Rapid Global Change”.

A healthy fishery must be nurtured, respected and understood. At this time in history, fisheries must be managed; so, too, must potential partners who fish and consume fish. Commercial fisheries are the last of the hunting culture that supply food worldwide. Commercial fishing is often in direct competition with sport fishing. With rapidly growing consumer populations, environmental changes, reduced fish stocks, and growing fish culture initiatives, we must form partnerships to sustain our fisheries resources. We must be clear about why we want partnerships and ask many questions before forming them. What is the purpose and role of a partner? Are all partners expected to provide the same things? How will they be asked to serve and work? How will we organize the relationships, tasks, and accountability standards to track our accomplishments? How will training be provided? How will we know if our partnership is successful? What are the criteria for success? What will the partners derive from the relationship? What else can we do with what we have learned and built? Sharing a sampling of examples of partnership strategies, techniques, and program elements from the Pacific Coast of the United States, Canada, the Arizona desert, Florida, and elsewhere, there are thousands of instructive success stories of powerful partnerships that have worked and continue to be fertile grounds for both protecting and enhancing existing fisheries. This presentation will use media and a creative thinking format that will provide insights into team building, marketing, funding, leadership techniques, pitfalls, cautions, and sustaining and nurturing partnership strategies that synergize individuals in such arrangements. We will look at alternative and innovative approaches to funding, staffing, building political constituency and lobbying partnerships, as well as the traditional volunteer approach.