The role of fish life-history evolution in a marine ecosystem: 'evolutionary'Ž loss of fisheries yields

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In many commercially important fish stocks, fishing induced mortality can be several times higher than natural mortality. If fishing is size selective, it will disproportionately decrease survival of fastest growing and largest individuals, leading to fisheries induced evolution (FIE). Empirical data from wild fish stocks and theoretical models show strong support that FIE is already happening (Figure 1) and might be having negative impact on recovery of heavily exploited stocks. Yet, nothing is known about the ecosystem level consequences of FIE.