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Spring 1998 |
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Page 4 |
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Inside |
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Great American Fish Count |
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Mapping Benthic Habitats |
pg. 4 |
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SAC/Working Group Updates |
pg. 4 |
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With a growing number of fisheries world wide suffering from unsustainable yields, no-harvest marine reserves are increasingly being considered as a resource management tool. However, there is little information on where to locate these areas, how big they should be, which species could benefit from protected areas, and how they could benefit. Local scientists are working to address some of these questions through research currently underway at the Big Creek Ecological Reserve (BCER) at the southern end of the Big Sur coast. Under the leadership of Mary Yoklavich of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) office in Pacific Grove, details of sea floor habitats and ocean current patterns have been mapped at the reserve. The Sanctuary has supported the project with seed money and ship time aboard NOAA's research vessel McArthur. Funding also comes from NMFS, UC Sea Grant, and the California Department of Fish and Game's Marine Ecological Reserves Research Program.  During a four-day cruise in June 1996, researchers used side-scan sonar to map approximately twenty-five square kilometers of the continental shelf along the Big Sur coast in water depths of thirty to 200 meters. Eight different types of potential benthic (bottom) habitats were identified; about eight percent of the survey area consisted of rocky habitats that are likely to be suitable for many benthic species of rockfishes. The scientists also studied ocean circulation patterns over the continental shelf and out to forty kilometers offshore using an acoustic Doppler current profiler. They collected data on the ocean's temperature, salinity, and currents. These data will help determine how such physical processes affect the distribution and survival of young fishes, and will lead to an understanding of the role marine reserves can play in movement of these young fishes from the reserve,where they are born, to surrounding unprotected areas. "Patterns in ocean circulation have significant consequences for fisheries recruitment, larval transport, and the subsequent effectiveness of the reserve to enhance fish resources," explains Yoklavich. "If the patterns that we have described in this study prove to be reliable, we could hypothesize that young fish produced by the spawning stock of adults protected within the reserve will be actively advected north and then offshore at Point Sur. The developing fish could be returned to their nearshore habitat to settle, as is the case for many coastal rockfish species, via the onshore flow that we detected to the south of the reserve." The Sanctuaries and Reserves Division (SRD) of NOAA is interested in this kind of research for its long-term resource management implications. Locally, the MBNMS looks forward to having a better picture of the habitats along the Central California coast. SRD is promoting this project as an excellent example of collaborative effort, across disciplines and across institutions. "The project has involved scientists as diverse as fish biologists to satellite oceanographers, from twelve different agencies," explains MBNMS Research Coordinator Andrew DeVogelaere. The BCER research will continue for at least two years. Yoklavich and her colleagues currently are using a manned submersible to verify the side-scan sonar information and to assess fish populations in and out of the reserve. They also are continuing to use the McArthur to define ocean current patterns during different times of the year. "Describing and quantifying the importance of coastal habitats to marine fishes is necessary in determining a reserve's value to resource protection," says Yoklavich. "Results of our study provide the basis for long-term monitoring of local marine resources and serve as a model for evaluating and protecting essential fish habitats nationwide." Stay tuned for further updates on this important research. Principal researchers include Mary Yoklavich and Frank Schwing, Pacific Fisheries Environmental Laboratories (NMFS, NOAA); Gregor M. Cailliet and Gary Greene, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories; Robert Lea, California Department of Fish and Game; and Richard Starr, UC Sea Grant Extension Program. |
Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC):
New Members: At the March meeting (re-scheduled from February), new members were sworn in and former members were thanked for their years of service to the Sanctuary. (See page 7 for current Council members.) A reception afterwards at the Carmel Highlands Inn honored new members and the Sanctuary's new Superintendent, William Douros.
Miscellaneous Presentations: Dr. Holly Price of the Water Quality Protection Program (WQPP) gave the Council an in-depth report on that program's activities at the December meeting. The Council also heard presentations on the rule making process for kelp harvesting, the October "mystery oil" spill in Monterey Bay, and the recent work of the Research Activity Panel (RAP).
Research Activity Panel (RAP):
This winter presentations to the RAP included those on Moss Landing Marine Laboratories' rebuilding project, research at the National Undersea Research Program, a GIS (Geographic Information System) Project for Monterey Bay resource management, and a web page containing a compilation of El Niño projects.
Focus on Key Research Issues: RAP members provided a list of priority issues in Sanctuary research for Superintendent Bill Douros to take to the national Sanctuary Managers' meeting.
Ricketts Memorial Award: The RAP invited Dr. George Somero of Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Station to give the Ricketts Memorial Lecture at the March Sanctuary Currents Symposium. Dr. Somero's work focuses on physiological adaptations of animals to extreme environments such as temperature and pressure.
MBNMS Research Program Report: The RAP thanks Sanctuary Research Coordinator/Senior Scientist Andrew DeVogelaere for his hard work in producing the "Research Program Summary of 1997 Activities." An in-depth look at Sanctuary research, the report also features appendices with a substantial list of 1997 publications related to Sanctuary research and articles from local newspapers highlighting Sanctuary research projects.
Sanctuary Education Panel (SEP):
New Chair: At its January meeting the SEP presented former Chair Dorris Welch, Director of Education Programs at UCSC's Long Marine Laboratory, with a plaque and thanked her for her time, expertise, and support for the SEP during her tenure as Chair. Jeff Bryant of the Monterey Bay Aquarium now serves as Chair and Patricia Clark-Gray of California State Parks serves as Vice-Chair. Dorris Welch continues to be the Education Representative for the SAC.
SEP Roles/Responsibilities: The SEP is currently working to re-define its roles and responsibilities. A final document is expected soon.
1998 Education Programs: Sanctuary staff presented a list of planned 1998 Education Projects at the February meeting. Highlights include promoting "International Year of the Ocean" at Sanctuary events, developing a regional watershed web page, offering teacher workshops, completing a Water Quality Protection Program video, creating a MBNMS poster, and continuing to encourage volunteer and intern participation in Sanctuary education.
Conservation Working Group (CWG):
Vessel Traffic: Four CWG members are working on a "Vessel Traffic Management Group" of stakeholders (see front page). CWG groups are networking with other organizations to see that effective measures are established that will significantly reduce the risk and potential impact of spills in the Sanctuary.
Compliance with Marine Conservation Laws and Sanctuary Enforcement:
Conservation Laws: Members' volunteer outreach programs educate the public about marine conservation laws, enhancing voluntary compliance through education.Enforcement: The Sanctuary is finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding with agencies to cross-deputize State Parks and Department of Fish and Game personnel, to allow them to enforce Sanctuary regulations. The CWG is working with those agencies to ensure close coordination between volunteer outreach programs and the agencies' efforts to improve enforcement.
Pollution: The CWG, led by the Center for Marine Conservation, continues to oversee the development of state and federal plans to address non-point source pollution, which continues to be the main source of pollution for coastal waters.
New Superintendent: The CWG gave a hearty welcome to Superintendent Bill Douros and briefed him on the history of the working group, issues of concern within the conservation community, and opportunities for collaboration in the future.
(Alternates, if applicable, are in parentheses.)
Non-Governmental Members:
Agriculture: Richard Nutter, Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner (Michael Jani, Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau)At-Large: Chet Forrest, Cambria Fishing Club
(Alternate position is vacant.)
At-Large: Steve Webster, Marine Science Advisor, Monterey Bay Aquarium (Ellen Faurot-Daniels, Office of Spill Prevention and Response)
At-Large: Karin Strasser Kauffman, Retired, Central Coast public servant (Erik Schmidt, Land Trust of Santa Cruz)
Business: Steve Abbott, Environmental Coordinator, Pacific Gas and Electric Moss Landing Power Plant (Ted Balestreri, Cannery Row Company)
Conservation: Rachel Saunders, Director, Pacific Habitat Conservation Program, Center for Marine Conservation (Vicki Nichols, Save Our Shores)
Diving: Ken Lundie, Coastside Preservation and Recreation (Ed Cooper, Cooper Publications)
Education: Dorris Welch, Education Director, Long Marine Laboratory (Patricia Clark-Gray, California State Parks, Monterey District)
Fishing: Dave Danbom, Moss Landing Commercial Fisherman (Travis Evans, California Seafood Council)
Recreation: Sally Smith, Paradise Surf Shop (Takashi Hattori, Pacific Grove Ocean Rescue Team)
Research: Gregor Cailliet, Professor of Ichthyology, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
(Richard Starr, UC Sea Grant)Tourism: Ed Brown, Vice President - Planning, Pebble Beach Company
(Alternate position is vacant.)
Governmental Members:
AMBAG: Katherine Beiers (Ruth Vreeland)California Coastal Commission: Tami Grove
California EPA: Marc Del Piero
California Resources Agency: Brian Baird (Melissa Miller-Henson)
Harbors: Steve Scheiblauer, Monterey Harbor (Jim Stilwell, Moss Landing Harbor District)
Enforcement: Doug Huckins, CDFG (Roy Torres, NOAA/NMFS)
U.S. Coast Guard: Lt. Phyllis Blanton
Non-Voting Members:
Channel Islands NMS: Ed CassanoGulf of the Farallones NMS: Ed Ueber
Elkhorn Slough NERR: Becky Christensen
Monterey Bay NMS: Bill Douros
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Last modified on: June 14,
1999