Maximum Sustainable Yield

Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) is the largest amount of a renewable resource, like fish or forest, that can be harvested annually without depleting or permanently damaging the resource’s future availability. It aims to balance usage and preservation, ensuring the resource remains healthy over the long term. MSY involves understanding the resource's growth rate and productivity to set harvesting limits that prevent overfishing or overharvesting, supporting sustainability for both ecosystems and industries dependent on these resources.