Abstract
To reduce the impact of human activities on ecosystems is a major challenge of the next decades. Worldwide, overfishing depletes numerous fish stocks, threatening fisheries economy, biodiversity and the functioning of ecosystems. However, developing sustainable fishery policies necessitates a thorough understanding of how fish populations respond to the fishing pressure. In the present project, we have access to a unique long-term (1943 to present), individual-based growth, maturation and fecundity data set of pike (Esox lucius) in Lake Windermere of North England. From this exceptional data set, we will be able to accurately model and quantify the ultimate processes (evolutionary vs. density-dependent plasticity) of fishing-induced adaptive changes in growth and maturation patterns of pike. Moreover, we plan to experimentally explore the proximate processes (behavioural and physiological mechanisms) behind density-dependent growth and maturation in pike. Then, we will develop a population dynamic harvesting model in order to simulate a suite of harvest strategies and how they may impact on yield and population resilience. To succeed in this inclusive, multidisciplinary approach, we will lean on the exceptional competencies of the CEES at the University of Oslo (host institution, Norway) and on international collaborations with the CEH (Lancaster, UK) and the UMR 5178 CNRS/MNHN/UPMC (Paris, France).
Norway