An overview of the NEFSC's ecosystem modeling enterprise for the northeast US shelf large marine ecosystem : towards ecosystem-based fisheries management NEFSC's ecosystem modeling enterprise for the northeast US shelf large marine ecosystem

"As we move towards Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management (EBFM) in the Northeast [US] Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem (NES LME), ecosystem modeling will be a critical element of doing so. As such, it is valuable to describe current and ongoing ecosystem modeling efforts in the NES LME, with a particular emphasis on how they are being used in a living marine resource (LMR) m anagement context. We provide a description of the major ecosystem models and salient information associated with their use in the NES LME. We discuss how such models could be used to advance EBFM in the near term with a focus on the appropriate application of classes of models for addressing specific types of high priority research and management questions. We also note those areas of improvement that could be considered to enhance ecosystem modeling efforts for the NES LME. We finally highlight some of the major lessons learned from our modeling endeavors in an LMR context in the NES LME, so that we and other regions around the world can continue to move towards the implementation of EBFM"--Executive summary. by Jason S. Link, Robert J. Gamble, Michael J. Fogarty. "October 2011." Includes bibliographical references (pages 28-41).