1. Ecosystem-Based Management for the Northeast US Continental Shelf
An ecosystem approach to management is management that is adaptive, specified geographically, takes into account uncertainties, considers multiple external influences, and strives to balance diverse social objectives (NOAA Strategic Plan ).
Ecosystem-based fishery management is one part of the broader concept of Ecosystem-Based Management

2. Current Management Practices Result in Management Plans
Why EBFM?
Current Management Practices
Result in Management Plans
that Work at Cross-Purposes
Cod
Haddock
White Hake
Pollock
Yellowtail Flounder
Winter Flounder
Witch Flounder
Windowpane
American Plaice
Halibut
Redfish
Ocean Pout
Sea
Herring
Surf Clam
Ocean Quahog
Spiny Dogfish
Red Crab
Monkfish
Tilefish
Scup
Black Sea Bass
Summer Flounder
Bluefish
Squid
Mackerel
Butterfish
Sea Scallops
Winter Skate
Little Skate
Smooth Skate
Thorny Skate
Barndoor Skate
Clearnose Skate
Rosette Skate
Silver Hake
Red Hake
Offshore Hake
NEFMC
MAFMC
Salmon

3. How Do We Get There from Here?

4. Primary Assessment Models
NEFSC Ecosystem Modeling
Activities
Empirical Models (Nonlinear Time Series)
Ryther-Ware Production Potential Models
Aggregate Production Models (Brown et al.)
Multispecies Production Models (MSProd)
Size-Based Models (LeMANS; MMLSAM)
Ecosystem Network Models (EcoPath)
Multispecies Virtual Population Analysis
Full Ecosystem Models (Atlantis;EcoSim)
Primary Assessment Models
Virtual Test Beds

5. Ecoregions for Northeast US Shelf
Aggregate Yield and Proportion Collapsed for 21 species Georges Bank Model (Worm et al. 2009)
Reference Points for GoM
Aggregate Production Model
Aggregate Surplus Production
12 Species Demersal Complex
Gulf of Maine (GoM)
State space model fit for Demersal
Assemblage on Georges Bank

6. The Key Question: Can we Manage Complexity?
(1) Identify management objectives aimed at higher levels of ecological organization (e.g. functional groups) where we can take advantage of emergent properties of these systems related to predictability and stability. Management of a portfolio of species rather than individual stock offers a tractable and internally consistent pathway toward EBFM.
(2) Develop integrated assessments for defined ecoregions (e.g. large marine ecosystems or subsets of these regions), sharply reducing the total number of assessments required.
(3) Use ecosystem assessment models that are only as complex as needed to capture the dynamics of the managed system.
(4) Adopt a Management Procedure framework that tests and, if supported, implements simple control rules and metrics and
(5) Address tradeoffs directly and consider satisficing solutions
for management if alternative approaches (e.g. formal
optimization) are not feasible.

8. Ecosystem-Based Management
Scoping
Defining
Management
Units
Setting
Objectives
Integrated Ecosystem Assessment
Indicator
Development
Risk Analysis
Ecosystem
Research
Monitoring
Management
Strategy
Evaluation
Spatial
Management
Options
Impact
Control
Options
Tradeoff Resolution &
Management Advice

9. Potential Benefits of Adopting EBFM
Simplification of management structures
Coordination of management actions for stocks, protected species, biodiversity & habitat
Comprehensive consideration of fishery & biological interactions
Accounting for Ecosystem constraints on rebuilding
Consideration of Climate change
Coordination with State EBM efforts and Regional Ocean Councils
Increased stewardship from broader participation

10. Timeline of Critical Council-Related Events
2008. NEFMC directs SSC to develop a White Paper on strategies for EBFM in the Northeast.
2010. SSC delivers White Paper to NEFMC
Three EBFM presentations on EBFM made to NEFMC
NEFMC forms Ecosystems Committee comprising chairs of all existing committees
NEFMC establishes Plan Development Team for EBFM
MAFMC establishes Ecosystem Subcommittee
of SSC