Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management Offers a Sustainable Path for the Ocean

Ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) is a holistic approach that incorporates marine ecosystem health into the management of fish stocks. By integrating ecosystem-focused policy objectives, advanced data analysis of an ocean region, and stakeholder engagement into management regimes, EBFM can help ensure the long-term viability of global fisheries, as well as the species and ecosystems that they depend on. EBFM also provides tools to help managers meet their wider conservation commitments, such as the Global Biodiversity Framework targets.

The fact sheets and other resources collected here present tools that managers can use to implement EBFM, including ecosystem-focused harvest strategies, spatial measures for habitat and species protection, and bycatch-reduction and climate-resilience measures. These tools can help managers and stakeholders strengthen fisheries management and build a more sustainable future. They reflect the scope of The Pew Charitable Trusts’ ongoing work on EBFM in international fisheries management, which builds on Pew’s previous efforts to expand the use of ecosystem approaches in the United States.