Simulating the impacts of fishing on central and eastern tropical Pacific ecosystem using multispecies size-spectrum model

The size-spectrum model has been considered a useful tool for understanding the structures of marine ecosystems and examining management implications for fisheries. Based on Chinese tuna longline observer data from the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean and published data, we developed and calibrated a multispecies size-spectrum model of twenty common and commercially important species in this area. We then use the model to project the status of the species from 2016 to 2050 under five constant-fishing-mortality management scenarios: (1) F=0; (2) F=F-recent, the average fishing mortality from 2013 to 2015; (3) F=0.5F(recent); (4) F=2F(recent) and (5) F=3F(recent). Several ecological indicators were used to track the dynamics of the community structure under different levels of fishing, including the mean body weight, slope of community size spectra (Slope), and total biomass. The validation demonstrated that size-at-age data of nine main catch species between our model predictions and those empirical data from assessments by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission matched well, with the R-2>0.9. The direct effect of fishing was the decreasing abundance of large-sized individuals. The mean body weight in the community decreased by similar to 1 500 g (21%) by 2050 when F doubled from F-recent to 2F(recent). The higher the fishing mortality, the steeper the Slope was. The projection also indicated that fishing impacts reflected by the total biomass did not increase proportionally with the increasing fishing mortality. The biomass of the main target tuna species was still abundant over the projection period under the recent fishing mortality, except Albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga). For sharks and billfishes, their biomass remained at relatively higher levels only under the F=0 scenario. The results can serve as a scientific reference for alternative management strategies in the tropical Pacific Ocean.