Response to Kiełpińska and Kowalski: A stab in a self-imposed darkness

Anders Galatius; Jonas Teilmann; Morten Tange Olsen; Floris van Beest

doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107808

Response to Kiełpińska and Kowalski: A stab in a self-imposed darkness

Anders Galatius^*, Jonas Teilmann, Morten Tange Olsen, Floris van Beest

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Comment/debate/letter to the editor › Research › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

In a recent paper in Ecological Indicators, Kiełpińska and Kowalski (K&K) present a model aimed to facilitate culling of a large fraction of the Baltic grey seal population without sacrificing management aims with regard to distribution. Their paper and model include several flawed assumptions with regard to grey seal biology, particularly life history, population structure and movements. The actual modelling exercise is intransparent and there is no discussion or account for uncertainties or ecological complexities. K&K do not mention or review the existing literature on the outcomes of marine mammal culls or investigations of the role of grey seals in the Baltic Sea ecosystem, but state an imperative that aquatic top predators must be controlled. Ecosystem modelling has indicated that fisheries and a large grey seal population can coexist and that culling of marine top predators can have unpredictable and unintended effects. Given the flawed assumptions, lack of regard for uncertainty and complexity as well as the actual knowledge gaps, we suggest great caution in the use of K&K's model.

Original language	English
Article number	107808
Journal	Ecological Indicators
Volume	127
Number of pages	4
ISSN	1470-160X
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107808
Publication status	Published - Aug 2021

Keywords

Baltic Sea
Culling
Grey seal
Management
Modelling
Seals-fisheries conflicts
MORTALITY
REPRODUCTIVE RATE
MODEL
GREY SEAL POPULATION
PREDATOR
FISHERIES
IMPACT
BALTIC SEA
ECOSYSTEM
HISTORY

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10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107808Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

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@article{2210207254a646908449596d9ada4519,

title = "Response to Kie{\l}pi{\'n}ska and Kowalski: A stab in a self-imposed darkness",

abstract = "In a recent paper in Ecological Indicators, Kie{\l}pi{\'n}ska and Kowalski (K&K) present a model aimed to facilitate culling of a large fraction of the Baltic grey seal population without sacrificing management aims with regard to distribution. Their paper and model include several flawed assumptions with regard to grey seal biology, particularly life history, population structure and movements. The actual modelling exercise is intransparent and there is no discussion or account for uncertainties or ecological complexities. K&K do not mention or review the existing literature on the outcomes of marine mammal culls or investigations of the role of grey seals in the Baltic Sea ecosystem, but state an imperative that aquatic top predators must be controlled. Ecosystem modelling has indicated that fisheries and a large grey seal population can coexist and that culling of marine top predators can have unpredictable and unintended effects. Given the flawed assumptions, lack of regard for uncertainty and complexity as well as the actual knowledge gaps, we suggest great caution in the use of K&K's model.",

keywords = "Grey seal, Baltic Sea, culling, seal-fisheries conflicts, modelling, management, Baltic Sea, Culling, Grey seal, Management, Modelling, Seals-fisheries conflicts, MORTALITY, REPRODUCTIVE RATE, MODEL, GREY SEAL POPULATION, PREDATOR, FISHERIES, IMPACT, BALTIC SEA, ECOSYSTEM, HISTORY",

author = "Anders Galatius and Jonas Teilmann and {Tange Olsen}, Morten and {van Beest}, Floris",

year = "2021",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107808",

language = "English",

volume = "127",

journal = "Ecological Indicators",

issn = "1470-160X",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Response to Kiełpińska and Kowalski

T2 - A stab in a self-imposed darkness

AU - Galatius, Anders

AU - Teilmann, Jonas

AU - Tange Olsen, Morten

AU - van Beest, Floris

PY - 2021/8

Y1 - 2021/8

N2 - In a recent paper in Ecological Indicators, Kiełpińska and Kowalski (K&K) present a model aimed to facilitate culling of a large fraction of the Baltic grey seal population without sacrificing management aims with regard to distribution. Their paper and model include several flawed assumptions with regard to grey seal biology, particularly life history, population structure and movements. The actual modelling exercise is intransparent and there is no discussion or account for uncertainties or ecological complexities. K&K do not mention or review the existing literature on the outcomes of marine mammal culls or investigations of the role of grey seals in the Baltic Sea ecosystem, but state an imperative that aquatic top predators must be controlled. Ecosystem modelling has indicated that fisheries and a large grey seal population can coexist and that culling of marine top predators can have unpredictable and unintended effects. Given the flawed assumptions, lack of regard for uncertainty and complexity as well as the actual knowledge gaps, we suggest great caution in the use of K&K's model.

AB - In a recent paper in Ecological Indicators, Kiełpińska and Kowalski (K&K) present a model aimed to facilitate culling of a large fraction of the Baltic grey seal population without sacrificing management aims with regard to distribution. Their paper and model include several flawed assumptions with regard to grey seal biology, particularly life history, population structure and movements. The actual modelling exercise is intransparent and there is no discussion or account for uncertainties or ecological complexities. K&K do not mention or review the existing literature on the outcomes of marine mammal culls or investigations of the role of grey seals in the Baltic Sea ecosystem, but state an imperative that aquatic top predators must be controlled. Ecosystem modelling has indicated that fisheries and a large grey seal population can coexist and that culling of marine top predators can have unpredictable and unintended effects. Given the flawed assumptions, lack of regard for uncertainty and complexity as well as the actual knowledge gaps, we suggest great caution in the use of K&K's model.

KW - Grey seal

KW - Baltic Sea

KW - culling

KW - seal-fisheries conflicts

KW - modelling

KW - management

KW - Baltic Sea

KW - Culling

KW - Grey seal

KW - Management

KW - Modelling

KW - Seals-fisheries conflicts

KW - MORTALITY

KW - REPRODUCTIVE RATE

KW - MODEL

KW - GREY SEAL POPULATION

KW - PREDATOR

KW - FISHERIES

KW - IMPACT

KW - BALTIC SEA

KW - ECOSYSTEM

KW - HISTORY

U2 - 10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107808

DO - 10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107808

M3 - Comment/debate/letter to the editor

SN - 1470-160X

VL - 127

JO - Ecological Indicators

JF - Ecological Indicators

M1 - 107808

ER -

Response to Kiełpińska and Kowalski: A stab in a self-imposed darkness

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Keywords

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