The Role of Marine Benthos in the Fishery Productivity of Eastern Boundary Upwelling Systems

Eastern Boundary Upwelling Systems (EBUSs) are among the most productive marine biomes globally, renowned for their substantial pelagic fisheries. While the role of wind-driven upwelling in stimulating primary production is well-documented, the integral contributions of the marine benthos in maintaining ecosystem productivity and fishery yields are often underrepresented. This article analyzes evidence from the Humboldt, California, Benguela, and Canary Current systems to delineate the critical functions of the seabed and its resident communities. Three primary pathways through which the benthos supports fisheries are described: (1) by facilitating the efficient regeneration of nutrients from sedimenting organic matter, thereby replenishing the inorganic nutrient pool for subsequent primary production; (2) by providing essential habitat structure that supports the life history of a myriad of species, including demersal and coastal fish species, serving as nursery and feeding grounds; and (3) by forming the foundational trophic base for benthic-feeding fishes and invertebrates of commercial importance. By comparing system-specific characteristics, such as the influence of oxygen minimum zones on benthic community structure, the integrity of the benthic subsystem as a fundamental determinant of the productivity and sustainability of EBUS fisheries is demonstrated. A holistic management approach that includes benthic habitat conservation is therefore paramount.