Resources

Ecosystem approach to Fisheries Management (DFO)

DFO EBM Research Guide:  Home - Ecosystem-based management - LibGuides at Fisheries and Oceans Canada 

Department of Fisheries and Oceans

• A New Ecosystem Science Framework in Support of Integrated Management (dfo-mpo.gc.ca) 

ICES

• International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)

• ICES Framework for Ecosystem-Informed Science and Advice (FEISA)

• ICES. 2020. ICES and Ecosystem-based management. ICES Strategy. [##] pp. https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.5466

Journal Articles

• Andrews, E.J., Daly, J., Nyiawung, R.A., Parlee, C.E. and Bundy, A., 2025. A systematic scoping review of social sciences and humanities to contribute to ecosystem-based management. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 82(5), p.fsaf055. 

• Eger et al, 2021, A systematic review of integrated coastal and marine management progress reveals core governance characteristics for successful implementation (ScienceDirect) 

• Haugen, J.B., Link, J.S., Cribari, K., Bundy, A., Dickey-Collas, M., Leslie, H.M., Hall, J., Fulton, E.A., Levenson, J.J., Parsons, D.M. and Hassellöv, I.M., 2024. Marine ecosystem-based management: challenges remain, yet solutions exist, and progress is occurring. NPJ Ocean Sustainability, 3(1), p.7. 

• Haugen, J.B., Link, J.S., Fulton, E.A., Dickey-Collas, M., Brainard, R.E. and Bundy, A., 2025. A performance measure framework for ecosystem-based management. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 82(6), p.fsae164. 

• Long, R.D., Charles, A. and Stephenson, R.L., 2015. Key principles of marine ecosystem-based management, Marine Policy, 57 pp. 53-60.

• Long, Rachel D. 2016, Key principles of ecosystem‐based management: the fishermen's perspective (Fish and Fisheries - Wiley Online Library) 

• Stephenson et al., 2019 A practical framework for implementing and evaluating integrated management of marine activities. (Ocean Coast. Management). 

• Stephenson et al, 2021, The Quilt of Sustainable Ocean Governance: Patterns for Practitioners. Frontiers: (Marine Conservation and Sustainability) 

• Stephenson, R. et al., 2024 Blueprint for Blue Economy implementation (Marine Policy) 

• Ruckelshaus et al., Marine Ecosystem-based Management in Practice: Scientific and Governance Challenges | BioScience | Oxford Academic (oup.com) 

• Winther et al., 2020 Integrated ocean management for a sustainable ocean economy (nature.com) 

Books

• Eger, S., Stephenson, R. et al. 2024 . Chapter 11: Bright spots in integrated management of Canada's oceans and coasts. IN: Sumaila, R., Armitage, D., Bailey, M. and W.W. Cheung (Eds). (in press). Canada’s Oceans: Pathways to Sustainability in a Sea of Change. UBC Press: Vancouver. 

• O'Higgins, Timothy G. et al., 2020 Ecosystem-Based Management, Ecosystem Services and Aquatic Biodiversity : Theory, Tools and Applications (SpringerLink)

• McLeod et al., 2009. Ecosystem-Based Management for the Oceans (islandpress.org) 

• Link, J 2010, Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management (Cambridge University Press)

• Link and Marshak 2022. Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management. Progress, Importance, and Impacts in the US (Oxford) 

• Jamieson, G., and O'Boyle, R. (2001). Proceedings of the National Workshop on objectives and indicators for ecosystem-based management, Sidney, British Columbia, 27 February –2 March 2001. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat. Proceedings Series. 2001/09.

• Gavaris, S. Porter, J.M., Stephensen, R.L., Robert, G., and Pezzack, D.S. (2005). Review of the management plan conservation strategies for Canadian fisheries on Georges Bank: A test of a practical ecosystem-based framework. International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Annual Science Conference, Aberdeen, United Kingdom. ICES CM 2005/BB:05.

• Curran, K., Bundy, A., Craig, M., Hall, T., Lawton, P., Quigley, S., Canada, O., Region, M., & Scotia, N. (2012). Recommendations for Science, Management, and an Ecosystem Approach in Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Maritimes. Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat, 3848.

Ecology and Society Editorial

• Parlee, C. E., Foley, P., López Gómez, M. A., Miah, M. R., Mather, C., & Stephenson, R. L. (2021). Full spectrum sustainability and a theory of access: Integrating social benefits into fisheries governance. Marine Policy, 134(September). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104764

• Mussells, C., & Stephenson, R. L. (2020). A comparison of sustainability objectives: how well does the Canadian Fisheries Research Network framework compare with fisheries, forestry, and aquaculture certification schemes? Ecology and Society, 25(1), art17. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-11368-250117

• Paul, S. D., Stephenson, R. L., & Oceans, D. of F. and. (2020). The integration of full-spectrum ecosystem-based management in Canadian fisheries management plans. https://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/201/301/weekly_acquisitions_list-ef/2020/20-10/publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2020/mpo-dfo/Fs97-6-3350-eng.pdf

• Stephenson, R. L., A. J. Hobday, C. Cvitanovic, K. A. Alexander, G. A. Begg, R. Bustamante, P. K. Dunstan, S. Frusher, M. Fudge, E. A. Fulton, M. Haward, C. Macleod, J. McDonald, K. L. Nash, E. Ogier, G. Pecl, É. E. Plagányi, I. van Putten, T. Smith, and T. M. Ward. (2019a). A practical framework for implementing and evaluating integrated management of marine activities. Ocean and Coastal Management 177:127-138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. ocecoaman.2019.04.008

• Stephenson, R. L., M. Wiber, S. Paul, E. Angel, A. Benson, A. Charles, O. Chouinard, D. Edwards, P. Foley, D. Lane, J. McIsaac, B. Neis, C. Parlee, E. Pinkerton, M. Saunders, K. Squires, and R. U. Sumaila. (2019b). Integrating diverse objectives for sustainable fisheries in Canada. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 76:480-496. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2017-0345

• Thompson, S., R. L. Stephenson, G. A. Rose, and S. D. Paul. (2019). Reshaping fisheries research in Canada: the Canadian Fisheries Research Network. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 76:671-681. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2018-0450

• Jones, O. P., and R. L. Stephenson. (2019). Practical use of full- spectrum sustainability in the Bay of Fundy. Ecology and Society 24(3):25. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-11010-240325

• Angel, E., Edwards, D. N., Hawkshaw, S., Wor, C., & Parlee, C. E. (2019). An indicator framework to support comprehensive approaches to sustainable fisheries management. Ecology and Society, 24(4), art12. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-11242-240412

• Benson, A. J., and R. L. Stephenson. (2018). Options for integrating ecological, economic, and social objectives in evaluation and management of fisheries. Fish and Fisheries 19(1):40-56. https:// doi.org/10.1111/faf.12235

• Stephenson, R. L., S. Paul, M. Wiber, E. Angel, A. Benson, A. Charles, O. Chouinard, M. Clemens, D. Edwards, P. Foley, L. Jennings, O. Jones, D. Lane, J. McIsaac, C. Mussells, B. Neis, B. Nordstrom, C. Parlee, E. Pinkerton, M. Saunders, K. Squires, and U. R. Sumaila. (2018). Evaluating and implementing social- ecological systems: a comprehensive approach to sustainable fisheries. Fish and Fisheries 19(5):853-873. https://doi. org/10.1111/faf.12296

• Squires, K., & Wiber, M. G. (2018). Distribution of fishery benefits and community well-being: a review of increased access to the Eastern Nova Scotia snow crab fishery. Ecology and Society, 23(2), art25. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-10137-230225

• Parlee, C. E., & Wiber, M. G. (2018). Using conflict over risk management in the marine environment to strengthen measures of governance. Ecology and Society, 23(4), art5. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-10334-230405

• Artelle, K. A., Stephenson, J., Bragg, C., Housty, J. A., Housty, W. G., Kawharu, M., & Turner, N. J. (2018). Values-led management: the guidance of place-based values in environmental relationships of the past, present, and future. 23(3). https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-10357-230335

• Foley, P., Okyere, D. A., & Mather, C. (2018). Alternative environmentalities: recasting the assessment of Canadas first Marine Stewardship Council-certified fishery in social terms. Ecology and Society, 23(3), art37. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-10382-230337

• Stephenson, R. L., A. J. Benson, K. Brooks, A. Charles, P. Degnbol, C. M. Dichmont, M. Kraan, S. Pascoe, S. D. Paul, A. Rindorf, and M. Wiber. (2017). Practical steps toward integrating economic, social and institutional elements in fisheries policy and management. ICES Journal of Marine Science 74(7):1981-1989. https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsx057