Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management

To investigate economies of scale, we use the
Cobb-Douglas production function, while we examine the structure of the fish-farming by computing the HHI
indicator over different years. We find that the market concentration level is high in Greece in both relative, to
Norway, and in absolute terms. From the other part, Norway, the leader of the fish farming of Atlantic salmon
and Rainbow trout globally, suffers from economies of scale in the examined period. Given the fact that both
Greek and Norwegian production is targeting large markets in Europe (UK, France, Italy) both the findings in
Greece and Norway may be worrying signals, that large M&A activity may lead to decreasing competition
and increasing returns to scale in the industry, as previously happened in the food retail industry. Given the
important contribution of fish farming to poverty alleviation, food security and social well being, European
regulators should investigate whether it is optimal to exercise policies that enhance technology transfer and
limit further market concentration.

A mixed-method approach was used to assess and value the ecosystem services derived from the Dogger Bank, an extensive shallow sandbank in the southern North Sea. Three parallel studies were undertaken that 1) identified and quantified, where possible, how indicators for ecosystem service provision may change according to two future scenarios, 2) assessed members of the public's willingness-to-pay for improvements to a small number of ecosystem services as a consequence of a hypothetical management plan, and 3) facilitated a process of deliberation that allowed members of the public to explore the uses of the Dogger Bank and the conflicts and dilemmas involved in its management. Each of these studies was designed to answer different and specific research questions and therefore contributes different insights about the ecosystem services delivered by the Dogger Bank. This paper explores what can be gained by bringing these findings together post hoc and the extent to which the different methods are complementary. Findings suggest that mixed-method research brings more understanding than can be gained from the individual approaches alone. Nevertheless, the choice of methods used and how these methods are implemented strongly affects the results obtained.

"Networks are mathematically directed (in practical applications also undirected) graphs and a graph is a one-dimensional abstract complex, i.e., a topological space. Network theory focuses on various topological structures and properties, dynamic properties, and functionality-topology relationship, etc. There are some common mathematical foundations, theories and methodology for network analysis, in which graph theory, statistics, and operational research, etc., are the fundamental sciences of network analysis. Various emerging biological networks, at both micro- and macro- levels, will provide numerous sources for the development of general network theory and methodology and also facilitate the development of theory and methodology of biological networks.

Biological network analysis is a fast moving science. Many core scientific issues, for example, ecological structure, co-evolution, co-extinction and biodiversity conservation in ecology, and cancer development and metabolic regulation in health science, etc., are expected to be addressed by network approaches and network analysis. Network analysis is becoming the core methodology to treat complex biological systems. As the fast development of this area, more and more papers on biological networks are published.

At present explosive numbers of quality papers on biological networks are being published each year. The initiation of the journal, Network Biology, will provide a public and unified platform for the publication of these studies. From this integrated and unique journal, researchers, university teachers and students will thoroughly have an in-depth and complete insight on knowledge, methodology and recent advances of biological networks.

In the view of system dynamics, biological networks are always self-organized systems with emergent, autonomous and adaptive properties. Their dynamics can be represented by agent-based modeling, individual-based modeling and some other methodologies like neural network modeling. Therefore, agent-based modeling, individual-based modeling, self-organization of biological systems, and neural network modeling, etc., fall into the aims and scope of the journal, Network Biology.

The NETWORK BIOLOGY (ISSN 2220-8879) is an open access, peer-reviewed online journal that considers scientific articles in all different areas of network biology. It is the transactions of the International Society of Network Biology.It dedicates to the latest advances in network biology. The goal of this journal is to keep a record of the state-of-the-art research and promote the research work in these fast moving areas. The topics to be covered by Network Biology include, but are not limited to:

•Theories, algorithms and programs of network analysis
•Innovations and applications of biological networks
•Dynamics, optimization and control of biological networks
•Ecological networks, food webs and natural equilibrium
•Co-evolution, co-extinction, biodiversity conservation
•Metabolic networks, protein-protein interaction networks, biochemical reaction networks, gene networks, transcriptional regulatory networks, cell cycle networks, phylogenetic networks, network motifs
•Physiological networks
•Network regulation of metabolic processes, human diseases and ecological systems
•Social networks, epidemiological networks
•System complexity, self-organized systems, emergence of biological systems, agent-based modeling, individual-based modeling, neural network modeling, and other network-based modeling, etc.
We are also interested in short communications that clearly address a specific issue or completely present a new ecological network, food web, or metabolic or gene network, etc.

Authors can submit their works to the email box of this journal, networkbiology@iaees.org. All manuscripts submitted to this journal must be previously unpublished and may not be considered for publication elsewhere at any time during review period of this journal. Authors are asked to read Author Guidelines before submitting manuscripts.

In addition to free submissions from authors around the world, special issues are also accepted. The organizer of a special issue can collect submissions (yielded from a research project, a research group, etc.) on a specific research topic, or submissions of a scientific conference for publication of special issue.

Network Biology 
ISSN 2220-8879
URL: http://www.iaees.org/publications/journals/nb/online-version.asp
RSS feed: http://www.iaees.org/publications/journals/nb/rss.xml
E-mail: networkbiology@iaees.org
Editor-in-Chief: WenJun Zhang"

Artisanal fisheries or Small scale fisheries (SSF) is described for the central area of the Colombian pacific. This socioeconomic activity is of high importance for coastal and riverside communities whose fishermen work with traditional knowledge of local coastal geography as well as environmental and oceanographic conditions. Hundred twenty-six (126) exploited species were identified, but it may be more than 250 species. Fishing boats, fishing gears and methods were described for the SSF, Capture per unite effort for gillnet was estimated, and main projects supporting SSF were reported. Average Length at Capture were estimated for 18 species, and compared with reports of literature and former average length at maturity estimations. Fishing costs and other
aspects, such as El Niño and La Niña phenomena, long dry or wet seasons were analyzed, showing effects on SSF. Participative management is the best option to manage SSF in this area of the Pacific coast.

EAFM represents a major shift in the manner in which fisheries resources and their sustainability are viewed. Malaysia has been proactive in embedding EAFM into the country’s natural resource regime, beginning with initiatives in Sabah. As part of Malaysia’s ongoing commitment to the regional effort to introduce Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management in all CT6 countries, this paper has been prepared to enable other countries to understand the situation relating to EAFM in Malaysia—its challenges and successes—so they can draw on this experience in pursuing their own EAFM goals.

In doing this, this position paper provides:
• A backdrop to the Malaysian fisheries sector, including its socio-economic importance and resource health.
• The current status of the EAFM implementation in the country:
– Including current EFAM initiatives.
– Major constraints faced in implementation.
• Future direction and recommendations for EAFM in Malaysia.

Jasmin Saad is the editor of the paper.