Evolution in Fisheries Science

Industrial fishing is the main source of mortality for many harvested fish stocks, and there is increasing concern that this will cause evolutionary changes in the fish species themselves. We use models as a virtual laboratory to study fish evolution. With these, we assess potential consequences of fishing or environmental change, and identify management strategies that can reduce negative consequences.

The Basis: Physiological and Ecological Mechanisms

By focusing on environmental, physiological, and ecological mechanisms, we begin by modelling selection pressures that have shaped fish species to be the way they are today. By varying the external pressures, such as fishing, we simulate fish evolution to help interpret observed patterns, identify new patterns one might need to look out for, assess ecological and economical consequences, and identify management strategies that may minimize or reduce negative consequences.

Evolutionary Fisheries Management

A central question is how fisheries management should respond. Are the expected changes of such magnitude and rate that fishing regimes need to be changed to minimize the impact?

Collaboration with Evofish

For this research theme we benefit from the proximity and close relationship with Professor Mikko Heino and his research group in Evolutionary Fisheries Ecology.

Read more in our papers

	E.S. Dunlop, K. Enberg, C. Jørgensen, and M. Heino. 2009. Toward Darwinian fisheries management Evolutionary Applications 2: 245-259. [open access]
	K. Enberg, C. Jørgensen, E.S. Dunlop, M. Heino, and U. Dieckmann. 2009. Implications of fisheries-induced evolution for stock rebuilding and recovery Evolutionary Applications 2: 394-414. [ pdf ] [open access]
	K. Enberg, C. Jørgensen, E.S. Dunlop, Ø. Varpe, D.S. Boukal, L. Baulier, S. Eliassen, and M. Heino. 2012. Fishing-induced evolution of growth: concepts, mechanisms, and the empirical evidence Marine Ecology 33: 1-25. [ pdf ] [open access]
	K. Enberg, C. Jørgensen, and M. Mangel. 2010. Fishing-induced evolution and changing reproductive ecology of fish: the evolution of steepness Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 67: 1708-1719. [ pdf ]
	C. Jørgensen, E.S. Dunlop, A.F. Opdal, and Ø. Fiksen. 2008. The evolution of spawning migrations: state dependence and fishing-induced changes Ecology 89: 3436-3448. [ pdf ]
	C. Jørgensen, B. Ernande, and Ø. Fiksen. 2009. Size-selective fishing gear and life history evolution in the Northeast Arctic cod Evolutionary Applications 2: 356-370. [ pdf ]
	C. Jørgensen, K. Enberg, E.S. Dunlop, R. Arlinghaus, D.S. Boukal, K. Brander, B. Ernande, A. Gårdmark, F. Johnston, S. Matsumura, H. Pardoe, K. Raab, A. Silva, A. Vainikka, U. Dieckmann, M. Heino, and A.D. Rijnsdorp. 2007. Managing evolving fish stocks Science 318: 1247-1248. [more information]
	C. Jørgensen and Ø. Fiksen. 2010. Modelling fishing-induced adaptations and consequences for natural mortality Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 67: 1086-1097. [open access] [online appendix]