Recent international agreements and the precautionary approach: new directions for fisheries management science

The dynamics of exploited fish populations can be highly uncertain and the precautionary approach to fisheries management addresses such uncertainties. The precautionary approach is now embodied in several international agreements, including (i) the UN Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks Agreement and (ii) the FAO Code of Conduct. We discuss how application of these agreements will change the daily operations of many fisheries agencies. Contrary to past practices, the absence of adequate scientific information can no longer be a reason for postponing or failing to take conservation measures. Future harvest strategies will be based on stock-specific reference points and predefined decision rules. However, more research is required to quantify uncertainties associated with reference point definitions and their practical application in a management context. In addition, future research will emphasize environmental issues with extensive data requirements, such as ecosystem impacts of fishing. Data collection will remain a core business activity; agencies must address the costs of maintaining shared and documented data archives over the long term.