The FishPath approach for fisheries management in a data- and capacity-limited world
FishPath addresses challenges in managing data- and capacity-limited fisheries by combining an online decision-support tool with a participatory process. It identifies suitable harvest strategy components based on local conditions, promotes transparency, and fosters stakeholder engagement, enabling practical, science-based, and adaptive management for sustainable fisheries worldwide.
Subject Tags
- Business and Industry
- Community-based conservation
- Fisheries
Abstract
Sustainable fisheries management relies on harvest strategies—formal frameworks that integrate data collection, stock assessment, and management measures to regulate fishing pressure. While effective in well-resourced fisheries, implementing harvest strategies in data- and capacity-limited (DCL) contexts remains a major challenge. These fisheries often suffer from insufficient data, weak governance, limited technical capacity, and complex socio-economic conditions. As a result, managers face overwhelming choices, leading either to inaction or adoption of generic solutions that fail to fit local realities.
The FishPath approach was developed to overcome these barriers through two key components: the FishPath Tool and the FishPath Process. The FishPath Tool is an interactive, online decision-support system that guides users through a diagnostic questionnaire covering species biology, fishery operations, data availability, governance, and socio-economic factors. Based on responses, it identifies suitable options for each harvest strategy component—data collection, assessment methods, and management measures—while providing detailed caveats and assumptions. Rather than prescribing a single solution, FishPath promotes transparency and informed decision-making, enabling users to explore trade-offs and future possibilities.
Complementing the Tool, the FishPath Process is a facilitated, multi-stakeholder engagement that ensures inclusivity and local ownership. It involves articulating management objectives, capacity building, and linking component options into fully articulated harvest strategies. This structured, bottom-up approach fosters trust, improves stakeholder buy-in, and accelerates progress toward sustainable management. Case studies from Chile and Australia demonstrate FishPath’s ability to identify knowledge gaps, tailor strategies to unique contexts, and support adaptive management.
By combining technical rigor with participatory design, FishPath transforms the daunting task of managing DCL fisheries into a practical, replicable process. It empowers stakeholders, targets capacity-building efforts, and provides a clear pathway to science-based management. As global fisheries increasingly face resource constraints, FishPath offers a scalable solution to break the cycle of management paralysis and promote long-term sustainability.
Citation
Dowling, N. A., Wilson, J. R., Cope, J. M., Dougherty, D. T., Lomonico, S., Revenga, C., Snouffer, B. J., Godoy Salinas, N., Torres-Cañete, F., et al. (2023). The FishPath approach for fisheries management in a data- and capacity-limited world. Fish and Fisheries, 24(2), 212–230.
Media Contacts
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Natalie A. Dowling
CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere
Email: natalie.dowling@csiro.au