Perspective Note

Could the wild population of Large Yellow Croaker Larimichthys crocea (Richardson) in China be restored? A case study in Guanjingyang, Fujian, China

¹ Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan 316000, PR China
² National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
³ Xiamen University, Xiamen, PR China
⁴ The Third Institute of Oceanography, Xiamen, PR China
⁵ Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, Australia
⁶ Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, PR China.

^* Corresponding author: gqy@zju.edu.cn

Handling Editor: Ziniu Yu

Received: 25 February 2020
Accepted: 5 August 2020

Abstract

Over 90% of the world's fisheries have been fully exploited or over-fished. Included is the large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea), an important commercial fish species in China whose population was nearly depleted prior to the 1980s. Although overfishing and natural resources collapse present a daunting issue, some studies indicate that improved management strategies could aid in natural stock restoration to prevent depletion. We developed an integrated assessment method grounded on an ecosystem-based approach and deigned an integrated index with three key aspects of habitat suitability, natural population status and government & social interventions, to evaluate the potential restoration capacity of the species in a designated “national aquatic germplasm resource protected area” in Guanjinyang based on a data set spanning 1987 to 2015. The results show that although restoration efforts on research and rehabilitation have increased greatly since late 1990s, the effectiveness stays moderate and the natural population remains near depletion.