This study aimed to empirically investigate the applicability of ecosystem-based TAC (Total Allowable Catch) fisheries management targeting the large purse seine fishery where multi-species are regulated by TAC. Using a linear programming, the optimal fishing effort and the catch amount by species which maximize fishing profits were analyzed under the constraint condition of catch limits by species. Analytical results showed that an application of TAC on only chub mackerel would have negative impacts on fish stocks such as hairtail and jack mackerel by increasing the level of fishing effort to achieve its allocated catch limit. However, under the constraint condition of catch limits of all species, it was shown that optimal catches of all species were achieved within their catch limits. It implies the importance of ecosystem-based management considering biological and technical interactions of species those were excluded in the traditional single species fisheries management.

A self-regulatory community fisheries management program in Korea is designed to enhance fisheries resources, to protect fishing grounds of self-regulatory communities, and to manage their fisheries resources by their own regulations and knowledge. This study explored an applicable ecosystem-based management plan based on the scientific investigation and analysis. This study suggested objectives, indicators and reference points of the ecosystem-based resource management system which are applicable to selfregulatory community fisheries. The objectives of the management system are to maintain sustainable fisheries production, to maintain optimum fishing intensity, to reduce by-catch, to conserve spawning ground and habitat, to maintain optimum habitat environment, to increase/maintain abundance of prey species, to increase/maintain stock biomass, and to conduct stock enhancement on the basis of scientific assessment. The improved methods for the assessment and management are introduced by demonstrating a self-regulatory fishery which targets on hen clam in Dong-li fishing village in Busan.

The potential of ecosystem-based fisheries management is recently recognized to be very important to improve the sustainability of fisheries resources. Under the depressed condition of many fisheries resources, this recognition has been expanded and more effort has been taken to improve this approach. Taking ecosystem concept includes the use of other tools of management in addition to fisheries regulation, such as stock and productivity enhancement, provision of physical structure, or marine protected areas. In the ecosystem-based fisheries management approach, it would require to holistically consider ecological interactions of target species with predators, competitors, and prey species, the effects of climate on fisheries ecology, the complex interactions between fishes and their habitat, and the effects of fishing on fish stocks and their ecosystem. Fisheries management based upon the understanding of these factors can prevent significant and potentially irreversible changes in marine ecosystems caused by fishing. A useful approach for analyzing tropho-dynamic interactions and mass-balance in marine ecosystems is introduced to demonstrate the complexity and usefulness of the ecosystem approach, which was applied to a small ecosystem in Korea. Korea should seriously consider to take the ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management, since most major fish stocks are currently depleted due to many reasons such as overfishing, land reclamation and coastal pollution.