Impact of maximum sustainable yield-based fisheries management frameworks on rebuilding North Atlantic cod stocks

Fisheries management frameworks based on maximum sustainable yield reference points have been put forward by all agencies and organizations responsible for providing scientific advice for the management of 22 major North Atlantic cod stocks. These frameworks provide a structure for rebuilding depleted cod stocks and for future sustainable fishing. Unfortunately, in most cases these frameworks have not been fully implemented. Although information is lacking for some stocks, it would appear that a large proportion of North Atlantic cod stocks are either experiencing a fishing mortality rate that exceeds that required to achieve maximum sustainable yield, are at a biomass level far below that which provides maximum sustainable yield, or have both occurring. Despite this general failure, there are some notable successes, which have led to stock rebuilding and substantial fisheries, providing an incentive for striving to achieve rebuilding and sustainable management objectives for other Atlantic cod stocks. Management frameworks based on harvest control rules that result in fishing mortality rates below those associated with maximum sustainable yield are essential when stock size is low in order to rebuild to levels capable of producing maximum sustainable yield.