Management actions associated with multiple reference points approach for geoduck clam fishery

As a fishery resource, the geoduck clam (Panopea spp.) is susceptible to overharvesting, mainly because of spatial serial depletion. For the Mexican geoduck clam P. globosa, there are several serious challenges to achieving its sustainability, mostly because the current legal guidelines have not identified the decrease in the stock's abundance, and the decision-makers have omitted to take action. This study evaluates control rules assuming uncertainty in the design of a precautionary strategy, so that a novel multistep process can improve the Mexican legal guidelines for the geoduck clam fishery. Based on an age-structured population decay model, four biological reference points were defined as i) management threshold point, ii) target reference point, iii) limit reference point, and iv) depleted. Each reference point (RP) was associated with different management tactics and actions because there are differences between effectively managing a geoduck clam fishery and recovering a geoduck clam population. The rationale for this analysis was to develop a novel fishery management proposal and provide updated guidelines for the Mexican geoduck clam fishery. All of them were based on international guidelines recommended by the ONU-FAO through the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, the Reference Points for Fisheries Management, and the adaptive management framework. The results showed the need to change the paradigm of legal guidelines for the geoduck clam fishery. In this situation, the fishing authorities (stakeholders) could use the reference points proposed here as a general scheme for Fisheries Management. Otherwise, if the multiple reference point approach and associated management actions are not adopted, fishing communities in the Northwest Mexican Pacific are at high risk of potential loss of economic and social benefits.