Supporting Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management (EBFM) in meeting multiple objectives for sustainable use of coral reef ecosystem: Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) Ecosystem Model Output Data using a social-ecological system (SES) conceptual framework

The dataset represented here is the Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) model input and output under various scenarios for biomass and catch data, taking into account ecological parameters, different fishing methods, as well as social and economical parameters.

Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management is a holistic management approach that integrates the dynamics of an entire ecosystem, including societal dimensions. However, this approach seldom lives up to its promise because economic and social objectives are rarely specified. To fill this gap, we explored how an ecosystem model could better integrate economic and social objectives, using the coral reef ecosystem around Hawaii as a case study. After meeting with stakeholders and conducting a literature review of policy/strategy documents, we identified societal and ecological objectives and associated performance indicators for which data existed. We developed a social-ecological system (SES) conceptual framework to illustrate the relationships between ecological and social state components. This framework was the foundation for the development of the final SES model which we simulated using an Ecopath with Ecosim model. We simulated four gear/species restrictions for the reef-based fishery, two fishing scenarios associated with the opening of hypothetical no-take Marine Protected Areas for the deepwater-based fishery, and a Constant Effort (No Action) scenario. Despite limitations in the model, our approach shows that when social and economic objectives and social-ecological relationships are defined, we can visualize and quantify the trade-offs among the identified societal objectives to support managers in choosing among alternative interventions.