Social and ecological dimensions of the striped bass (Morone saxatilis) fisheries in southern New England

• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2047/D20284581

People cannot be considered separate from ecosystems, as we operate as important predators, contribute to species distributions, rely on the environment for food production, and derive significant cultural and recreation value from them. The way in which we manage these natural resource systems should be guided by their internal structure and interactions between both their social and ecological domains. Historically, however, we have managed fisheries as if species are isolated, which can lead to unintended spillover effects into other fisheries, fishery failures, species collapses, declines in resource-dependent community well-being, and the loss of culture. To begin moving towards a more holistic approach to management, we must develop research frameworks that explore the underlying characteristics of both social and ecological domains, and the ways in which they interact to mediate the delivery of ecosystem services.