The terms ‘ecosystem-based fisheries management’, ‘ecosystem-based
management’ and ‘ecosystem approach to fisheries’ have recently entered
the vernacular of fisheries management. Examination of contemporary
guidelines and proposals for such an approach illustrates that
ecosystem-based fisheries management is, for all intents and purposes, a
re-expression of the objectives and processes associated with ecologically
sustainable development (and associated international instruments). Since
the early 1990's, all levels of government in Australia have committed
themselves to the concept of ecologically sustainable development, and a
complex network of policies and laws exist to support this, particularly in
natural resource management. One significant outcome of these instruments is
the application of environmental impact assessment to the management of
fisheries. This has forced extensive deliberation of the ecological impact
of fisheries and stimulated the development and application of new research
tools. Application of environmental impact assessment to the management of
fisheries has been a crucial step for the implementation of ecosystem-based
fisheries management in Australia. These assessments are embedded within
a range of legal and policy instruments that capture the ecological,
economic and social dimensions of fisheries. The scientific challenges
associated with many aspects of ecosystem-based fisheries management are
very significant, but it is likely that the value-based nature of the
underlying environmental issues will continue to dominate the managerial
agenda.