Reflections on Sustainable Fishery Development Based on the Conservation of the Weihai Sand Lance

The Weihai sand lance, Ammodytes personatus, is an important ecological species as well as a local livelihood-supporting species. In recent years, the population has structurally declined because juvenile fish are being overfished extensively. A meaningful analysis of the ecological and economic impacts of juvenile fishing is presented in this paper, based on recent catch data, interviews with fishers, and case studies. A sustainable framework for targeted conservation and fisher livelihood transition. The framework was developed using three basic principles, to introduce the optimization of current management measures to strengthen special protections for juveniles, and to actively guide fishers. The study seeks to reconcile interest in sand lance conservation with income opportunities for fishing communities, offering insights for local fisheries sustainable development and stimulating further discussions on this important balance.