Enhancing the ecosystem approach for the fishery for Antarctic krill within the complex, variable, and changing ecosystem at South Georgia

Abstract The objective of the ecosystem approach to fisheries management is sustain healthy marine ecosystems and they support. One earliest implementations was in Southern Ocean, where decision rules stock reference points were developed for managing Antarctic krill fishery, together with an ecosystem-monitoring programme intended aid decisions. This latter component has not been incorporated directly into management, so here, we consider variability fishery at South Georgia, relating it physical biological monitoring indices, finding sea surface temperature be a key correlate both annual catch long-term indices. Some indices from predators showed significant positive relationships harvesting preceding winter, presumably indicative importance winter foraging conditions. We explore how ecological structure affects results, examining two sites 100 km apart. Results suggest different conditions sites, probably reflecting scales operation, emphasizing that appreciation scale will enhance management. Finally, reviewing drivers change, identify important additional would help better reflect status, improve utility CEMP, providing information necessary Georgia.