A Value and Investment Assessment of Marine and Inland Fisheries Globally to Inform Future Resource Management Strategies

Marine and inland fisheries provide substantial economic, nutritional, recreational, and cultural benefits to human populations globally. Though extensive research and management efforts exist to ensure the sustainability of these important resources, many fisheries still face threats including climate change, habitat degradation, and overfishing. The inland fisheries community often cites that less attention is given to inland fisheries compared to marine but, to date, no quantitative analysis has examined these differences. Our goal is to compare investment and resources allocated to the research and management of marine and inland fisheries relative to their value at a global scale. Through the development of an ecosystem services framework, we determine the cost versus benefits of inland fisheries management and conservation to the economy compared to marine fisheries. Through collecting information on direct government investment, including staffing levels for marine and inland fisheries management, we examine the extent to which governments invest in inland and marine management efforts. Lastly, we use case studies from specific countries to highlight at a finer scale investment relative to value of inland and marine fisheries. Effective resource allocation is essential to managing and conserving inland and marine fisheries relative to their value to society. Having a clear understanding of the current investment into these resources globally can assist policy makers by providing a more in-depth understanding of the value and associated investment for fisheries, which are especially important under the increasing threat of climate change on these important resources.