39 Introduction

Fisheries systems are composed of linked biophysical and human subsystem with interacting ecological, economic, social, and cultural components.^[1] In previous and subsequent sections of this book, information is provided on how to use EwE models to assess the ecological consequences of environmental change as well as of fisheries policies, conservation efforts (e.g., marine protected areas), and alternative uses of the marine environment (e.g., off-shore wind farms). Yet, humans, being integral parts of fisheries systems, also require attention in our modelling efforts.

Fishers’ actions are driven by economic objectives and their desire to secure their wellbeing.^{[2] [3]} Thus, their choices and behaviours, whether legal or not, occur along a gradient and are implemented by the same individuals or vessels, in their pursuit for a good life.^[4] Understanding the socio-economic characteristics of the fishers and fleets operating in the systems we are modelling, is key to assess whether the economic incentives at play promote compliance with existing or proposed regulations. ^{[5] [6] [7]  [8]} Moreover, environmental and policy changes have direct and indirect consequences on fishers’ income and broader social and economic policy goals. Yet, managers, decision makers, and regulators often lack adequate performance metrics covering the human dimensions of fisheries systems. This limits their capacity to assess or predict the socio-economic consequences of change in fisheries systems, as well as trade-offs among conflicting management objectives and the uncertainty behind them.^{[9] [10] [11] [12]}

More efforts are needed to adequately characterize and couple fisheries and their linked downstream supply chain nodes in food web models so that they can be used to inform decisions in the realms of the ecosystem approach to fisheries, ecosystem-based fisheries management, ecosystem-based management.^{[13] [14]} [13,14]. Fortunately, EwE has multiple capabilities for including fisheries socio-economics in food web models and improving our understanding of the feedbacks between human activities and ecosystem dynamics.