Latitude and body size are generally considered key drivers of swimming performance for larval marine fishes, but evidence suggests that evolutionary relationships and habitat may also be important. We used a comparative phylogenetic framework, data synthesis and case study approach to investigate how swimming performance differs among larvae of fish species across latitude. First, we investigated

Anguillid eels are found globally in fresh, transitional and saline waters and have played an important role in human life for centuries. The population status of several species is now of significant concern. The threats to populations include direct exploitation at different life stages, blockages to migratory routes by dams and other structures, changes in river basin management that impact habitat

Marine capture fishery resources are declining, and demand for them is rising. These trends are suspected to incite conflict, but their effects have not been quantitatively examined. We applied a multi-model ensemble approach to a global database of international fishery conflicts between 1974 and 2016 to test the supply-induced scarcity hypothesis (diminishing supplies of fishery resources increase

Marine fisheries in African waters contribute substantially to food security and local economies in African coastal nations. Recently, there are growing concerns about the sustainability of living marine resources in these countries’ exclusive economic zones (EEZs) due to increased risks from climate change, pollution and potential over-exploitation of fisheries resources by non-African (foreign)

By-catch is the primary global conservation threat to populations of dolphins and porpoises. Despite protection for these protected species under its Habitats Directive, the European Union (EU) has failed to adequately assess and, where necessary, mitigate the by-catch of small cetaceans. Management authority is diffuse, and the EU has no over-arching, quantitative conservation objectives. To address

Fisheries by-catch poses the single greatest threat to cetacean (whales, dolphins and porpoises) populations. Despite this, by-catch of cetaceans does not receive proportionate levels of research or management effort. The contribution of small-scale fisheries to cetacean by-catch is generally overlooked because of the extreme data paucity in these fisheries. Here, we assess the likely geographic distribution

Management strategy evaluation (MSE) is the state-of-the-art approach for testing and comparing management strategies in a way that accounts for multiple sources of uncertainty (e.g. monitoring, estimation, and implementation). Management strategy evaluation can help identify management strategies that are robust to uncertainty about the life history of the target species and its relationship to other

We develop a potentially widely applicable framework for analysing the vulnerability, resilience risk and exposure of chondrichthyan species to all types of anthropogenic stressors in the marine environment. The approach combines the three components of widely applied vulnerability analysis (exposure, sensitivity and adaptability) (ESA) with three components (exposure, susceptibility and productivity)

Uncertainties in fish tracking studies limit their integration into conservation and fisheries management plans. This is especially true for archival tagging studies that rely on geolocation models to infer fish tracks from recorded environmental variables. Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) are increasingly popular to geolocate marine fish equipped with archival tags; however, true errors and sensitivity

The effectiveness and outcomes of management are expected to improve when people are informed, engaged and influential in governance and management procedures. The social-ecological and demographic contexts should, however, influence an individual's perceptions and willingness to engage and access appreciable benefits from management. To evaluate how engagement, procedures and perceived outcomes varied

Commercial fishers face a range of stressors that impact physical and mental health. However, there is limited research on the level of mental ill-health among fishers and on the nature of stressors that contribute to their psychological distress. This paper focuses on the experiences of commercial wild-catch fishers and analyses the results of an Australian national survey conducted in 2017 (n = 872)

Marine ecosystem forecasting is an important innovation in fisheries science with considerable value for industry and management, providing new data-driven means of predicting the distribution and availability of commercially exploited fish stocks over a range of timescales, including near-real-time and seasonal. Marine ecosystem forecasting is rapidly advancing as a field, yet tools produced for fisheries

The productivity susceptibility analysis (PSA) is a widely used method to rapidly assess species risk to fishing activities in data‐poor fisheries. A step in ecological risk assessments and used in data‐poor assessment for sustainable fisheries certification programmes (e.g. MSC) and recommendation lists (e.g. Seafood Watch), the PSA is semi‐quantitative, yet little attention has been given to the

Habitat models are widely used to explore past and predict future shifts in fish distribution. Our literature review reveals a widespread practice of using in situ data or data with the highest possible resolution to train fish habitat models. Using examples of six fish species at two life stages in the North Sea, we demonstrate that the choice of the data resolution is crucial for a model's performance

Fish biodiversity sustains the resilience and productivity of fisheries, yet this biodiversity can be threatened by overharvest and depletion in mixed‐stock fisheries. Thus, the biodiversity that provides benefits may also make sustainable resource extraction more difficult, a key challenge in fisheries management. We simulated a mixed‐stock fishery to explore relationships between different dimensions

Delineation of population structure (i.e. stocks) is crucial to successfully manage exploited species and to address conservation concerns for threatened species. Fish migration and associated movements are key mechanisms through which discrete populations mix and are thus important determinants of population structure. Detailed information on fish migration and movements is becoming more accessible

We review the status of groundfish stocks using published scientific assessments for 349 individual stocks constituting 90% of global groundfish catch. Overall, average stock abundance is increasing and is currently above the level that would produce maximum sustainable yield (MSY). Fishing pressure for cod‐like fishes (Gadiformes) and flatfishes (Pleuronectiformes) was, for several decades, on average

The capacity for aquaculture to provide an alternative source of fish and seafood to capture fisheries was once promoted as a tool to reduce demand for wild fish and thus tackle overfishing. To date, there is little evidence to suggest that aquaculture growth has successfully reduced fishing effort on wild populations. Recent theory on “blue transitions” suggests that displacement may only occur as

Many of the world's most important fisheries are experiencing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, thereby undermining efforts to sustainably conserve and manage fish stocks. A major challenge to ending IUU fishing is improving our ability to identify whether a vessel is fishing illegally and where illegal fishing is likely to occur in the ocean. However, monitoring the oceans is costly

Proportionality between spawning stock biomass (SSB) and annual total egg production (TEP) has been an inherent assumption in spawner–recruitment models for fisheries management and studies on recruitment mechanisms in fish. However, recent evidence of density dependence in egg production has led to a need to reconsider the validity of recruitment per spawning stock biomass (RPS), which is a SSB‐based

Recruitment in age‐structured stock assessment models can be forecasted using a variety of algorithms to provide advice on the anticipated consequences of different possible management actions. Selecting one method over another usually involves some subjectivity, yet can be consequential to the provision of advice. Extensive case‐specific testing is not always feasible. We evaluated the forecast skill

The estimation of age on a fish by using the otolith weight is a quick and low‐cost technique, yet controversial despite separate researchers worldwide have proved successfully its application. A systematic review was conducted including 47 publications containing 289 data points where the relationship between the age and otolith weight was assessed. Here, a meta‐analysis of the age and otolith weight

The ecosystem‐based fisheries management (EBFM) framework has a solid theoretical justification and has been embraced in principle by many regions; yet, systematic implementation remains a challenge. In regions with strong governance, single‐species stock assessment and management has been successful in ending overfishing and maintaining stocks near levels that produce maximum catches. However, considering

A novel fish estuary‐association scoring (FEAS) system that numerically expresses the relative position or level of estuarine‐association for each species has been developed. A dataset numerically describing the degree or level of estuarine‐association for some 6,000 fish species has been established based on an extensive review of the scientific literature on coastal and freshwater fishes. The FEAS

Marine ecosystems are changing rapidly due to ocean warming, overfishing and a raft of other anthropogenic impacts. Such changes are expected to disrupt productivity dynamics and alter marine food webs, with likely negative consequences for ecosystem services. It is, therefore, essential to devise and implement methods that can rapidly and inexpensively monitor changes in the marine food web structure

Effective fisheries management is necessary for the long-term sustainability of fisheries and the economic benefits that they provide, but focusing only on ecological sustainability risks disregarding ultimate goals related to well-being that must be achieved through broader social policy. An analysis of global landings data shows that average fishing wages in 36%–67% of countries, home to 69%–95%

Developing fisheries policies based on the best available science (BAS) has been generally required in international agreements and national legal documents in many countries. However, it is difficult to comply with BAS when lacking a uniformly agreed-upon operational framework. In this study, we conducted an exhaustive literature review and developed a framework that includes a comprehensive set of

Environmental change and anthropogenic activity, alone or in combination, may cause vital rates of fish populations to exhibit low-frequency, large-magnitude variation leading to non-stationary population processes in inherently dynamic ecosystems. It remains unclear why, when and, so, whether, non-stationary population processes should be taken into account in fisheries stock assessment models. Here

In marine management, fish stocks are often managed on a stock-by-stock basis using single-species models. Many of these models are based upon statistical techniques and are good at assessing the current state and making short-term predictions; however, as they do not model interactions between stocks, they lack predictive power on longer timescales. Additionally, there are size-based multi-species

Satisfaction is the reward that recreational anglers receive from their experiences, and it constitutes a relevant management target. Angler satisfaction also shapes preferences for regulations, compliance with rules and general angler behaviours. Because of its central role in recreational fisheries management, it is important to understand what drives angler satisfaction. Our objective was to study

Fish often aggregate to spawn, feed, rest, or avoid predation. Direct observations of very high counts of large-bodied grouper on deep shipwrecks, however, do not fit into typical descriptions of spawning-, resource-, or predation-driven aggregations. To investigate whether these observations are rare or part of an underlying pattern, we synthesized four decades (1979–2019) of direct observations of

To update the consensus on the effectiveness of fish passage mitigation structures or “fishways,” I conducted a meta-analysis on the fish passage literature and synthesized attraction and passage efficiency estimates from 60 peer-reviewed articles. One hundred unique species were studied at 75 unique fishways of various designs and sizes yielding 210 and 252 estimates of attraction and passage efficiency

The structure of seafloor terrain affects the distribution and diversity of animals in all seascapes. Effects of terrain on fish assemblages have been reported from most ecosystems, but it is unclear whether bathymetric effects vary among seascapes or change in response to seafloor modification by humans. We reviewed the global literature linking seafloor terrain to fish species and assemblages (96

Long time series of reliable individual growth estimates are crucial for understanding the status of a fish stock and deciding upon appropriate management. Tagging data provide valuable information about fish growth, and are especially useful when age‐based growth estimates and stock assessments are compromised by age‐determination uncertainties. However, in the literature there is a lack of studies

The rate of change in marine ecosystems and the speed with which pressure on those systems is escalating are much faster than rates of institutional change or management responses. The continued promulgation of a century‐old management approach (i.e., single species maximum sustainable yield), despite decades of scientific warnings regarding its flaws, highlights how fisheries management and science

Understanding fish movement in the Arctic is paramount during the current era of rapidly warming seas, receding sea ice and associated shifting species distributions and fishing effort. We synthesized the literature and identified key knowledge gaps on the movement ecology of Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) and Polar/Ice cod (Arctogadus glacialis, both Gadidae) in the context of climate change. Standardized

The Beverton–Holt and Ricker stock‐recruit functions were derived in terms of two pre‐recruit mortality parameters. Mace, & Doonan, (1988, A generalized bioeconomic simulation model for fish population dynamics) reparameterized the stock‐recruit function in terms of steepness, which combines pre‐recruit mortality with post‐recruit biological parameters defining unfished spawning biomass per recruit

Cell‐based seafood is an emerging novel food, with many start‐up companies aspiring for ocean conservation benefits through expanded market share that displaces wild‐caught seafood. However, the ability for cell‐based seafood to achieve this conservation outcome is often oversimplified and will rely on an extensive, and we find somewhat tenuous, chain of events. Here, we outline the technological,

This paper provides the results from the first meta‐analysis to examine the impact of cormorant (Phalacrocoracidae) predation on fish. It is based on a systematic search of literature, covering studies using significance‐based hypotheses tests on the relation between fish parameters and cormorant abundance. The results show that extensive research on cormorant diet exists, but few studies use statistical

The diversity of life histories across the animal kingdom is enormous, with direct consequences for the evolution of lifespans. Very short lifespans (maximum shorter than 1 year in their natural environment) have evolved in several vertebrate lineages. We review short‐lived fish species which complete either single (annual/univoltine) or multiple (multivoltine) generations within a year. We summarize

Tuna support some of the world's largest, most valuable and spatially extensive fisheries, but effective management has been challenging due to their transboundary movements and the need for multilateral decision‐making. To address public concerns of over‐exploitation, fishing companies have sought to differentiate themselves through involvement in “sustainable seafood” eco‐certification programmes

Microplastics (MPs) are small, plastic particles of various shapes, sizes and polymers. Although well studied in marine systems, their roles and importance in freshwater environments remain uncertain. Nevertheless, the restricted ranges and variable traits of freshwater fishes result in their communities being important receptors and strong bioindicators of MP pollution. Here, the current knowledge

The EU's fishing fleet engages in extensive fishing activities in the Exclusive Economic Zones of non‐EU countries as well as in areas beyond national jurisdiction. These activities are regulated by an external dimension in the EU's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). We review the relationship between the CFP, including regulations for the Sustainable Management of External Fishing Fleets (SMEFF) and the

We collated smolt‐to‐adult return rate (SAR) data for Chinook salmon from all available regions of the Pacific coast of North America to examine the large‐scale patterns of salmon survival. For consistency, our analyses primarily used coded wire tag‐based (CWT) SAR estimates. Survival collapsed over the past half century by roughly a factor of three to ca. 1% for many regions. Within the Columbia River

The spectre of increasing impacts on exploited fish stocks in consequence of warmer climate conditions has become a major concern over the last decades. It is now imperative to improve the way we project the effects of future climate warming on fisheries. While estimating future climate‐induced changes in fish distribution is an important contribution to sustainable resource management, the impacts

The US seafood sector is susceptible to shocks, both because of the seasonal nature of many of its domestic fisheries and its global position as a top importer and exporter of seafood. However, many data sets that could inform science and policy during an emerging event do not exist or are only released months or years later. Here, we synthesize multiple data sources from across the seafood supply

Illegal fishing is a widespread, global phenomenon that is affecting already heavily depleted wild fish stocks, threatening marine habitats and contributing to marine pollution through discarded fishing gear. Many different measures have been implemented by nation states to deter and prevent illegal fishing. These include coastal surveillance and policing, policies and regulation, and education. In

Species that migrate long distances or between distinct habitats— for example, anadromous or catadromous fish—experience the consequences of climate change in each habitat and are therefore particularly at risk in a changing world. Studies of anadromous species often focus on freshwater despite the ocean's disproportionate influence on survival and growth. To understand a prominent anadromous species’

The COVID‐19 pandemic, caused by the SARS‐CoV‐2, has presented itself as a wicked problem where both the disease and its containment measures have caused significant human suffering. The pandemic has also affected every aspect of aquaculture and capture fisheries. Zoonotic origin of the SARS‐CoV‐2 and its containment measures, such as restrictions on the mobility of people, social distancing and ban

This research systematically reviews fisher behaviour in coastal and marine fisheries. Fisher behaviour refers to individual and group level action that reflects the psychological processing and social exchange of information in fisheries. Fisher behaviour is poorly conceptualized and explained in fisheries research, and the implications of fisher behaviour for governance outcomes remain uncertain

Ghost sharks (subclass Holocephali) remain a largely data‐poor group of cartilaginous fishes. The general paucity of attention may partially be related to identification and unresolved taxonomic issues, occurrence in the deep oceans, and their low value and interest in fisheries (which some notable exceptions). Here, we synthesize and assess the extinction risk of all known extant ghost sharks (52

Marine fisheries around the globe are increasingly exposed to external drivers of social and ecological change. Though diversification and flexibility have historically helped marine resource users negotiate risk and adversity, much of modern fisheries management treats fishermen as specialists using specific gear types to target specific species. Here, we describe the evolution of harvest portfolios

Anthropogenic impacts are altering ecosystems, especially aquatic habitats, resulting in the loss of critical biodiversity. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of human pressure, as surrogated by the human footprint index (HFI), on the functional diversity of fish assemblages from 109 Neotropical reservoirs while considering covariates such as temperature, flooded area and age since damming

This paper reviews the progress made over the last 20 years in achieving sustainable, economically efficient and socially just marine fisheries, referred to here as reconciled fisheries. It examines the substantial changes that have occurred in policies, practices and the challenges to fisheries. These include greater awareness of the impacts of climate change, implementation of ecosystem approaches

The adoption of parental care behaviours is the distinctive reproductive characteristic associated with the diversification and divergence of notothenioid fishes into an array of habitats in the subzero shelf and upper slope waters around Antarctica and sub‐Antarctic environments. These include a variety of pre‐ and post‐fertilization activities, including courtship behaviour and mate choice, linked

Genetic parameters of growth, reproductive efficiency and survival are important for designing successful genetic improvement programmes. In this study, a database was assembled and a meta‐analysis was conducted using 87 peer‐reviewed published studies on genetic parameters of 63 economically important traits reported across nine major farmed shrimp species. A total of 641 estimates of heritability

There is a widespread need for reliable biodiversity databases for science and conservation. Among the many public databases available, we lack guidance as to how their data quality varies. Here, we compare species distribution data for a well known regional reef fish fauna extracted from five global online databases that supply “as is” data (GBIF, OBIS, IDigBio, FishNet2 and FishBase) and our own

Sawsharks (Order: Pristiophoriformes, Family: Pristiophoridae) are a highly distinctive group of sharks, characterized by a tapering saw‐like rostrum with a pair of elongate barbels on the ventral surface. Their unusual characteristics should attract attention; however, very few studies have been dedicated to sawsharks. As a result, our understanding of their biology and ecology is limited. However

Covering more than 65% of the Earth surface, the deep sea (200–11,000 m depth) is the largest biotope on Earth, yet it remains largely unexplored. The biology of its communities is still poorly understood, and many species are still to be discovered. Despite this, deep‐sea fish are already threatened by our exploitation and their conservation is hampered by a severe scarcity of data. Studies focusing

In addition to accidental aquaculture escapees, an increasing number of freshwater fish expressing different domestication levels are voluntarily released into the wild primarily as stocking supplement for fisheries and for conservation programmes. Because domestication modifies individual traits and because subtle changes in intraspecific variability can impact ecological dynamics, we argue that these