Structure, connectivity and resilience of an exploited ecosystem: towards sustainable ecosystem-based fisheries management

智利和秘鲁的浅潮下带岩礁主要由形成茂密森林的海藻组成。在智利的北方和中部，这导致了世界上最大的活采海带渔业之一，并雄心勃勃地将其空间范围扩大到秘鲁和智利南部。海带捕捞导致砍伐，导致当地森林砍伐和栖息地破碎，影响到该渔业的可持续发展以及海带森林生态系统的长期健康，而海带森林生态系统支持高度的多样性，并为人类社会提供价值数十亿美元的丰富商品和服务。鉴于智利和秘鲁的海带捕捞往往是由社会上较贫穷的人进行的，而且46%的手工渔业上岸量是与海带森林有关的物种，因此，更好地管理渔业将促进经济发展。目前实施的管理战略有限，而且执行不力。经合组织指出，过度开发和非法捕捞是该地区面临的主要渔业挑战，这一领域缺乏治理最终将影响两国的经济发展。作为回应，智利和秘鲁政府致力于制定海带资源管理计划，智利政府宣布了具有里程碑意义的计划，不仅要管理现有的库存，而且要向渔民提供直接资金，以补充枯竭地区的库存。秘鲁政府也走上了类似的道路，两国都在寻求确保持续提取海带生物量和维持海带相关渔业。然而，存在知识差距，妨碍了这些沿海社会生态系统的知情管理和长期可持续性，一刀切的管理办法不太可能在这一区域奏效。沿海海洋学是复杂的，有持续和季节性上升流的地区，也有上升流较弱或没有上升流的地区。上升流将寒冷、营养丰富和二氧化碳饱和的沃茨带到地表，影响种群动态和群落结构。因此，为了提供知情的管理咨询，有必要了解的影响，收获强度和环境的变化对海带种群的弹性（耐受能力和恢复）。此外，不同的捕捞技术和其他渔业管理手段可能会影响海带森林的复原力，不同的补充方法可能会或多或少成功。我们将采用多学科方法，结合人口遗传学，实验生态学，人口和物种分布建模以及社会生态学方法，为可持续海带捕捞提供工具和指标。具体而言，我们将致力于实现以下目标：1。量化整个地区开发的海带物种的总存量，并预测这将如何随着气候变化而变化。2.利用分子生物学技术和传统生态学方法，调查捕捞强度和环境变化对商业捕捞的海带物种以及五种重要海带相关物种的种群结构和连通性的影响。这将使我们能够确定促进海带森林恢复力的物理驱动因素和生物特征。3.通过探索不同的管理方案，开发可持续海带捕捞的工具和指标，以提高海带对捕捞的适应能力，并探索促进捕捞区恢复的方案。4.探索传统生态知识和自下而上的渔业治理方法在管理合规方面的作用。在实现这些目标的过程中，我们将为制定知情的管理计划做出重大贡献，这将改善这一重要渔业和地区的可持续性和经济发展。

Shallow subtidal rocky reefs of Chile and Peru are dominated by kelps that form dense forests. In northern and central Chile this has led to one of the largest live harvest kelp fisheries in the world with ambitions to extend its spatial extent to Peru and southern Chile. Kelp harvesting leads to clearances resulting in local deforestation and habitat fragmentation with implications for the sustainable development of this fishery as well as the long-term health of kelp forest ecosystems, which support high levels of diversity and provide a wealth of goods and services worth billions of dollars to human society. Given that kelp harvesting in Chile and Peru is often undertaken by poorer members of society and that 46% of artisanal fisheries landings are of species associated with kelp forests, better management of the fishery will lead to improved economic development. Currently there are limited management strategies in place and where present, they are poorly enforced. The OECD noted that over-exploitation and illegal fishing are key fisheries challenges in the region and that ultimately a lack of governance in this area will impact the economic development of both countries. In response, the governments of Chile and Peru are committed to developing management plans for kelp resources, with the Chilean government announcing landmark plans to not only manage current stocks, but to introduce direct funding to fisherman to restock depleted areas. The Peruvian Government is on a similar path, with both countries are seeking to ensure continued biomass extraction of kelp and the maintenance of kelp associated fisheries. However, knowledge gaps exist hampering informed management and the long term sustainability of these coastal socio-ecological systems.It is unlikely that a one size fits all management approach will work in this region. The coastal oceanography is complex with areas of persistent and seasonal upwelling as well as areas with weak or no upwelling. Upwelling brings cold, nutrient-rich and CO2 saturated waters to the surface influencing population dynamics and community structure. Therefore in order to provide informed management advice there is a need to understand the impacts of harvesting intensity and environmental variability on the resilience (ability to tolerate and recover) of kelp populations. In addition, different harvesting techniques and other fisheries management devices are likely to impact the resilience of kelp forests and different restocking methods are likely to be more or less successful. We will use a multidisciplinary approach incorporating population genetics, experimental ecology, population and species distribution modelling and social-ecological approaches to deliver tools and indicators for sustainable kelp harvesting. Specifically we will address the following objectives:1. Quantify the total stock of exploited kelp species across the region and predict how this will change with climate change. 2. Investigate the impacts of harvesting intensity and environmental variability on the population structure and connectivity of a commercially harvested kelp species as well as five important kelp-associated species using molecular techniques and traditional ecological approaches. This will enable us to identify the physical drivers and biological traits that promote resilience within kelp forests. 3. Develop tools and indicators for sustainable kelp harvesting by exploring different management options to improve kelp resilience to harvesting as well as exploring options for promoting recovery of harvested areas. 4. Explore the role of traditional ecological knowledge and bottom-up approaches to fisheries governance on management compliance.In meeting these objectives we will make significant contributions to the development of informed management plans, which will improve the sustainability and economic development of this important fishery and region.