Fisheries Management

The process of making decisions about how fish are caught, protected, studied and shared, which often become law or rule.

A system of harvesting fish that includes people, the resource, place, time, and practices.

Resource
type of fish being harvested, such as shrimp, blue crab, flounder or oysters

People
fishermen, sellers, seafood workers, suppliers, and coastal communities

Place
specific waterbodies and shorelines where fish are harvested

Time
seasons, days, and time of day fish are harvested

Practices
how fish are harvested, including the rules, the gear used, and local knowledge

Types of Fisheries

Commercial

harvest to provide seafood to consumers

Subsistence

harvest to provide for families or local traditions

Recreational

harvest for fun or personal use