An end-to-end model to evaluate the sensitivity of ecosystem indicators to track fishing impacts. (March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Halouani, Ghassen; Le Loc'h, François; Shin, Yunne-Jai; Velez, Laure; Hattab, Tarek; Romdhane, Mohamed Salah; Ben Rais Lasram, Frida
• Is Part Of: Ecological indicators. Volume 98(2019)
• Page Start: 121
• Page End: 130
• Publication Date: 2019-03
• Subjects: Ecological indicators -- OSMOSE -- Ecosystem model -- End-to-end model -- Marine ecosystem -- Fishing impacts -- Fishery -- Gulf of Gabes; Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; Environmental impact analysis -- Periodicals; Environmental risk assessment -- Periodicals; Sustainable development -- Periodicals; 333.71405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.10.061
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1470-160X

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: An end-to-end model was used to evaluate a set of indicators in the Gulf of Gabes. Contrasted fishing strategies were simulated to test the performance of indicators. The indicators were compared based on their sensitivity to fishing pressure. 3 paradigms defining the desirable properties of an indicator were scrutinized. The Large Fish Indicators were the most sensitive to track fishing effects. Abstract: In order to assist fisheries managers, ecological indicators are needed to evaluate the effects of fishing activities on marine ecosystems and to improve communication of these effects in both public and scientific contexts. Finding appropriate indicators is challenging given the complexity of marine food webs as well as the ecosystem response to fishing pressure. In this study, an end-to-end model developed in the Gulf of Gabes ecosystem (Tunisia) was used to compare the performance of a set of ecosystem indicators in assessing the impact of fishing. This end-to-end model aimed to represent the ecosystem functioning by coupling two existing sub-models, the multispecies individual-based model OSMOSE, representing the dynamics of exploited species and the biogeochemical model Eco3M-Med. The aim of the indicator selection method is to evaluate the sensitivity of a set of ecological indicators regardless the fishing management plan. This method was performed in two major steps. The first step consisted in simulating three simple contrasted fishing strategies in the OSMOSE model exploiting target species (i.e. high trophic level, low trophic level or all species) and then applying a fishing effort multiplier for each fishing strategy to the focus target species. In the second step, three paradigms defining the desirable properties of an ecological indicator have been specified: i/the indicator decreases with increasing fishing pressure, ii/the indicator responds linearly to an increase in fishing pressure and iii/the indicator responds consistently across different fishing strategies. Our results highlighted that the majority of indicators have quite similar performance regarding the trend and the linearity of their responses. However, the size-based indicators seem to be the most robust to track ecosystem effects of fishing when the fishing strategy changes. A focus on size-based indicators showed that Large Fish Indicators (40 cm) derived from demersal or all surveyed species were the most suitable to reflect a change in the status of the Gulf of Gabes ecosystem due to fishing pressure.