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