Application of the precautionary approach and conservation reference points to management of Atlantic seals

Abstract

Resource management requires a trade-off between conservation, economic, and political concerns in establishing harvest levels. The precautionary approach (PA) brings scientists, resource managers, and stakeholders together to identify clear management objectives and to agree on population benchmarks that would initiate certain management actions when those benchmarks are exceeded. A conceptual framework for applying the PA to marine mammals is outlined. For a data-rich species, precautionary and conservation reference levels are proposed. When a population falls below the precautionary reference level, increasingly risk-averse conservation measures are applied. A more conservative, risk-averse approach is required for managing data-poor species. The framework has been implemented for the management of commercial seal harvests in Atlantic Canada. © 2007 The Author(s).