Supporting Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management (EBFM) in meeting multiple objectives for sustainable use of coral reef ecosystem: Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) Ecosystem Model Outp...

The dataset represented here is the Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) model input and output under various scenarios for biomass and catch data, taking into account ecological parameters, different fishing methods, as well as social and economical parameters.

Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management is a holistic management approach that integrates the dynamics of an entire ecosystem, including societal dimensions. However, this approach seldom lives up to its promise because economic and social objectives are rarely specified. To fill this gap, we explored how an ecosystem model could better integrate economic and social objectives, using the coral reef ecosystem around Hawaii as a case study. After meeting with stakeholders and conducting a literature review of policy/strategy documents, we identified societal and ecological objectives and associated performance indicators for which data existed. We developed a social-ecological system (SES) conceptual framework to illustrate the relationships between ecological and social state components. This framework was the foundation for the development of the final SES model which we simulated using an Ecopath with Ecosim model. We simulated four gear/species restrictions for the reef-based fishery, two fishing scenarios associated with the opening of hypothetical no-take Marine Protected Areas for the deepwater-based fishery, and a Constant Effort (No Action) scenario. Despite limitations in the model, our approach shows that when social and economic objectives and social-ecological relationships are defined, we can visualize and quantify the trade-offs among the identified societal objectives to support managers in choosing among alternative interventions.

The main objective of this study was to improve the integration of human dimensions into the evaluation of fishery management scenarios in terms of their ability to improve the provision of ecosystem services that benefit human users (economic, consumptive and non-consumptive benefits), and to enhance the long-term future of the local reef and, hence, support Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management.

Publication:

Weijerman M, Oyafuso ZS, Leong KM, Oleson KLL, Winston M. 2020. Supporting Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management in meeting multiple objectives for sustainable use of coral reef ecosystems. ICES J Mar Sci.:13. https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsaa194.

Ecopath with Ecosim is designed for straightforward construction, parameterization and analysis of mass-balance trophic models of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Simulations are run to modify parameters, and rerun until external validation is achieved.

The Ecopath with Ecosim software has been distributed to more than 3000 registered users in 124 countries, and more than 200 publications utilizing it have appeared in the scientific literature. See www.ecopath.org for an update.

Each column of the model input and output tables are described in the entities. The output data include the biomass and catches (tons per sq. kilometer) for several groups of marine organisms under the current and alternative management scenarios and the relative performance of the indicators under six management scenarios simulated to start in 2020 and compared to current management.

While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of the current state of the art, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such warranty.

Main Hawaiian Islands in the Hawaiian Archipelago.

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NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) Data Sharing Recommendations, version 9.0 updated August 12, 2015:

ESD welcomes the opportunity to collaborate on research issues contributing to the scientific basis for better management of marine ecosystems. ESD has a very diverse set of field activities that generates large volumes of data using an array of data collection protocols.

The following recommendations are for your consideration as you use this data:

1) Data analyses should take all field exigencies into account. The most effective way to do this would be active collaboration with ESD principal investigators.

2) In all presentations, product releases, or publications using data generated by ESD, proper acknowledgement of both ESD and the individuals responsible for data collection is expected. Citing the DOI (if available) is preferred, a non-DOI example is listed below.

3) If you collect or generate data for the same study areas, ESD requests that you share relevant information on complimentary data collections.

4) Those receiving data are strongly urged to inform the ESD Data Management Team of any errors and discrepancies that are discovered during the course of using these data. They are further urged to bring to the attention of the Team all problems and difficulties encountered in using these data. This information is necessary in order to improve the collections and to facilitate more efficient and economical data processing and retrieval. The users are asked to supply copies of any missing data that may be located, and to provide information as to significant subsets and special aggregations of data that are developed in using the material provided.

Example citation:

"This publication makes use of data products provided by the Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with funding support from the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP). The analysis and interpretations presented here are solely that of the current authors.”

Model input and output data can currently be obtained by the author, and are available from the publication in ICES Journal of Marine Science:

Title: Data from: Weijerman M, Oyafuso ZS, Leong KM, Oleson KLL, Winston M. 2020. Supporting Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management in meeting multiple objectives for sustainable use of coral reef ecosystems. ICES J Mar Sci.:13.

Journal: ICES Journal of Marine Science

Journal manuscript number: https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsaa194.

The biological diver survey data can be obtained from the Ecosystem Sciences Division at PIFSC

The MRIP and commercial fisheries data requires a written confidentiality agreement which can be obtained from the Fisheries Research and Monitoring Division at PIFSC.

The monk seal data can be obtained from the Protected Species Division at PIFSC.

All other data was derived from published reports or articles.

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Please cite the publication (Weijerman M, Oyafuso ZS, Leong KM, Oleson KLL, Winston M. 2020. Supporting Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management in meeting multiple objectives for sustainable use of coral reef ecosystems. ICES J Mar Sci.:13. https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsaa194.) when using any of the data.

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Model input and outputs (Excel files) were generated using Ecopath with Ecosim version 6.5.14040.0

Model output data provide a range of potential forecast scenarios based on the available data and should not be used for tactical management

Model dynamics were validated with a hindcast simulation (1995-2019). Reconstructed linear catch time series per gear type from 1995 and 2019 were loaded into Ecosim for validation and to fine-tune the model by adjusting fishing effort and so minimize the residuals between predicted and observed fish biomass and fish landings temporal data points using a least-square fitting criterion.

Model data is stored on an external hard drive and backed up to a server at PIFSC weekly by the data steward. Data on the PIFSC server are managed by NOAA IRC and NOAA Fisheries ITS.

Input data was collected for the Ecopath with Ecosim model (EwE) from various programs at PIFSC such as the RAMP surveys, the bottomfish surveys and stock assessments, and underwater camera surveys conducted by PIFSC, the University of Hawaii Hawaii Underwater Research Lab (HURL) and the Department of Oceanography Drazen Lab. Vital rates and diet came mostly from Weijerman et al (2013) and other literature. The model output data are generated with the EwE model. All steps are available in Weijerman et al (2020) ICES Journal of Marine Science