The development of an Ecosystem Approach to fisheries requires an understanding of the ecosystem effects of fishing in temperate and tropical systems and the tradeoffs between policy objectives – say between maintaining yield and conserving large elasmobranchs.

Conservation and fisheries objectives in harmony

There is no contradiction or conflict between fisheries and conservation objectives. Our comparison of threat status with stock assessment status shows that threat criteria do not raise false alarms. There have been some perspective papers that suggest both sets of fisheries and conservation control rule are incompatible – this just isn’t supported by the evidence available. Some fisheries scientists have railed against the use of threat criteria and threat listings mainly because threat criteria are too simplistic.  Another perspective is that conservation objectives may threaten the jurisdiction of fisheries agencies.

I am keen to understand the permanent loss of biodiversity in our oceans. While there have been few global species extinctions I am keen to document and collate evidence of marine population extinctions and remaining extant populations.

EXTINCTIONS DATABASE

This dataset and analyses derived from it are published as:

Dulvy, N. K., Sadovy, Y. and Reynolds, J.D. (2003) Extinction vulnerability in marine populations. Fish and Fisheries 4, 25-64.

We view this dataset as a first step in the documentation of marine extinctions. We hope that readers will let us know whether any other species or populations have disappeared. Please feel free to email Nick Dulvy with corrections, changes or updates to the status of any of these species.

New records of marine extinctions?

We are keen to learn more about the status of some coral-associated reef fishes, which Terry Donaldson suggested might have disappeared from some Melanesian reefs. These include:

Gobies (Bryaninops, Gobiodon and Paragobiodon)
Hawkfishes (Neocirrhites armatus and Oxycirrhites typus)
The yellow-spotted scorpionfish (Sebastapistes cyanostigma)
The spotted croucher (Caracanthus maculatus)

What is happening to the harlequin leatherjacket (Oxymonacanthus longirostris)? There are a number of reports that this species disappeared from small areas after the 1998-2000 bleaching event, has it reappeared?

Save our Sawfishes

All seven species of sawfish are listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List and Shark Specialist Group. Has anyone seen a live one recently or heard of a recent capture. Please email me if you have.