Fishing reduces fish populations!!!

In the wake of the BP oil spill there is much anecdotal information and a smidgen of science to suggest that fish populations are up from previous years (note: not oysters). This has led to ill-informed ideas about stopping fishing for some species for a year or other "stop fishing" proposals.
News Flash!! Fishing reduces fish populations!! It does not matter whether its recreational or commercial fishing. Removing fish from the population (or stock) reduces the number and pounds of fish. Stopping fishing reduces mortality and allows fish populations to increase towards their natural but fluctuating maximum.

BUT we like fishing for its recreational, economic and food values. So it's ok to fish and reduce populations because in general fish populations have tremendous reproductive capacity and will respond to replenish the reduced population (see ancient graph at top of blog). No need to stop fishing - just make sure that enough fish are left each year to contribute enough offspring to keep the population steady or increasing. 


That's fishery management in a nutshell

Fish Curmudgeon Intro.

Curmudgeon: a churlish, irascible fellow; a cantankerous old codger.


That's what some may think as I challenge  conventional wisdom on fisheries management and the drivel that often appears in the popular press. Please stay tuned as an "old codger" begins his adventure on the blogosphere.