Ecosystem-Based Management
What is marine ecosystem-based management? Basically, it's a way of managing human activities that takes into account the cumulative effects of our activities on the health of the ocean.
Ecosystem-based management is a relatively new approach to the way that we manage ourselves. Until now, we've mostly managed our activities for their direct and obvious effects on a small handful of valuable species. We've largely ignored the cumulative effects of our activities on the broader marine ecosystem. With ecosystem-based management, our scope is broadened to include non-commercial species, important habitat like deep-sea corals and sponges, water quality, and so on. The overall idea is to ensure that the cumulative effects of our activities don't change the ecosystem's structure, functioning, or ability to withstand and recover from disturbance.
Does this mean that human activities must stop, that the ecosystem must be kept pristine and unchanged? Does ecosystem-based management seek to make the ocean one giant park where humans can't toss a hook into the water? No, it most certainly does not. Ecosystem-based management recognizes that humans and our communities rely on marine ecosystems for cultural, social, spiritual and economic sustenance. Ecosytem-based management strives to ensure that we recognize and respect the limits of healthy, functional, resilient ecosystems.
