Harvest Strategies Toolkit

Science-based fishery management can help ensure long-term sustainability

Harvest Strategies Toolkit

Harvest strategies are an approach to fisheries management under which managers and stakeholders agree in advance to adjust catch limits and other measures based on size of the fish population. Also known as management procedures, harvest strategies can play an important role in creating and maintaining sustainable stocks and a more secure supply chain. Because harvest strategies are a relatively new concept to some and are technical in nature, it is important to foster a better understanding of the approach among key audiences, including scientists, managers and other stakeholders such as the fishing industry, seafood retailers and conservation organizations. This toolkit examines the various components of the harvest strategies process from development to implementation, how these pieces work together and how they affect decision-making to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of fisheries management.