The maximum sustainable yield leads to extinction of species in most single and multispecies fisheries

The Commission of the European Communities passed a resolution in 2006 to implement sustainability in EU fisheries through application of the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) based policy. It is shown here that attempts to reach MSY will lead towards extinction of species for every fishery that includes fishing of at least one trophic level which is directly or indirectly used as food for a higher trophic level. Because this condition is met by most single and multispecies fisheries, attempts to reach MSY should be discouraged instead of being legally prescribed as a goal. Based upon above result advice is given on how to manage a fishery which will not drive species to extinction.