We've now reached the ultimate chapter of this book, and if you have stayed with me on this journey thus far, you're probably asking how I will tie it all together. Allow me to do so by returning to the catchphrase of this book: tradeoffs.

In this book, we've discussed the underlying philosophical and contextual basis for prosecuting fisheries and enacting EBFM. We have explored the underlying biology and related natural sciences that form the basis of our understanding to enact EBFM. We have considered the socioeconomic considerations critical to doing EBFM, and we've even noted the need for an institutional framework to address EBFM issues. But, what does that process look like, and ultimately, what are we trying to obtain as the outcome of such a process? How do we explore, examine and address the tradeoffs inherent to such a wide range of considerations?

I submit to you that without a place, process, or some such mechanism to sort out the social, economic, biological, ecological, and cultural tradeoffs, we will remain mired in the same difficulties we have faced for centuries.

TRADEOFFS: WHAT DO WE WANT?

Recall the three pillars of any management system (Figure 4.1, reproduced here as Figure 12.1).