Homework #13
Original
The current focus in fisheries management
has been on the possibility and greater application of marine protected areas (MPAs)
as a possible tool for managers and policymakers to utilize. The success of mpas
in tropical regions in managing coral and various species of fish associated
with coralline structure has fueled arguments in favor of broader utilization.
Thus, mpas have indeed been used successfully in the management of species that
are located in a particular area and/or directly associated with particular
types of benthic habitat.
However, the applicability of marine
protected areas for the management of pelagic species has been questioned.
Pelagic species by definition are highly mobile and minimally associated with
bottom structure. The majority of shark species are included in this
characterization and are thus challenging the creativity of managers as their
populations decrease nationwide. Faced with the growing market in shark fins and
the popularity of shark derbies, shark managers are now looking to mpas as a
possible means of combating the general trend of population decline.
Revised
Fisheries management is currently focusing
on ways to use marine protected areas (MPAs) more extensively. Arguments for
broader utilization have been fueled by the success of tropical MPAs in managing
corals and coralline fish, i.e., localized benthic species.
But questions have been raised abut the
usefulness of MPAs for managing pelagic species, which by definition are highly
mobile and largely independent of bottom structure. The majority of shark
species are of this type, and are thus challenging the creativity of managers as
their populations decrease nationwide. Faced with the growing market for shark
fins and the popularity of shark derbies, shark managers are now looking to MPAs
as a possible way to combat the declining populations.