Ecological-economic resilience of a fished coral reef through stochastic multi-species MSY

This paper investigates the ecological-economic resilience of coral reef ecosystems under fishing and environmental pressures. To achieve this, a dynamic, spatially explicit, multi-species, multi-fleet model is developed. Stochastic environmental shocks are also assumed to alter coral cover and consequently the entire coral reef socio-ecosystem. The model is calibrated using available ecological, economic and environmental data for Moorea (French Polynesia). Four exploratory fishing strategies and a goal-seeking strategy entitled SMMSY (Stochastic Multi-Species Maximum Sustainable Yield) are compared in terms of ecological-economic outcomes and resilience. The SMMSY turns out to promote ecological-economic resilience. It is first characterized by a global increase in fishing effort pointing out the relative current under-exploitation of the fishery. Secondly, SMMSY balances the trophic level of catches after natural shocks occurencies and sustains the fundamental herbivores grazing process. Fishing SMMSY strategies are also more diversified in terms of temporality, gears, location and targets. In a context of high food dependency, multi-criteria strategies pursuing socio-economic objectives along with ecosystem approach seem really relevant for complex insular socio-ecosystems.