Socio-Ecological Systems Division

Fisheries resources are influenced not only by fishing activity but also by the complex interactions among organisms within ecosystems, as well as environmental changes that affect those interactions. At the same time, market demand for these resources-which influences the scale and nature of fishing-can shift significantly in response to changing social and economic conditions. In this way, the fisheries industry operates within a dynamic system that integrates both human society and natural ecosystems. The Socio-Ecological Systems Division conducts interdisciplinary research that bridges the natural and social sciences. Our aim is to support fisheries management that is attentive to both ecological sustainability and the well-being of local communities. We focus on the conservation and sustainable management of marine ecosystems and fisheries resources, as well as the impacts of climate change and human activities-including fishing-on ecosystems, local societies, and regional economies.