Q3CC

Question

Suppose a new fishery is discovered, and you are put in charge of developing it sustainably. What ecological data might you want on the fish population? What criteria would you apply for the fishery’s development?

Step-by-Step Solution

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Answer

While following sustainable fishery management, ecological data that must be taken into account for the fish population are the population size and the average reproductive rate.

 

Criteria that could be applied for the fishery’s development are seeking an optimum harvest rate and maintaining the habitat and ecosystem. It is to ensure that the survival and maintenance of the population are near to its original size.

1Step 1: Sustainable development in fisheries

In sustainable fishery management, emphasis is put on maintaining the habitat and ecosystem of fish, supporting the fishery, and conserving the fish population properly.

 

In a sustainable fishery, there are abundant spawning fish, and fry rearing takes place in a nursery to ensure a large population in the next generation. The fisheries also allow fishing while maintaining the fish population.

2Step 2: Ecological data expected on the fish population

For the development of fishery sustainably, one must focus on two major ecological data that include the fish population size and the average reproduction rate.

 

The population size in a fishery is the total number of individual fishes in a population. The stability of the fish population is essential and is achieved through quantity and quality habitat and by controlling overfishing.

 

The average reproduction rate is an essential ecological parameter in establishing stability in fish populations and developing a fishery sustainablyThe sex ratio, availability of breeding fish, and fish fecundity influence the reproductive rate.

3Step 3: Criteria for fishery’s development

 Harvest rate is the primary criterion that could contribute to fishery’s development. It must be evidence-based, allowing controlled fishing to avoid overfishing. 

 

The other is the maintenance of healthy habitat and ecosystem for the fish population to survive and grow.