Overlap of North Pacific albatrosses with the U.S. west coast groundfish and shrimp fisheries
T.J. Guy, S.L. Jennings, R.M. Suryan, E.F. Melvin, M.A. Bellman, L.T. Ballance,B.A. Blackie, D.A. Croll, T. Deguchi, T.O. Geernaert, R.W. Henry, M. Hester,K.D. Hyrenbach, J. Jahncke, M.A. Kappes, K. Ozaki, J. Roletto, F. Sato,W.J. Sydeman, J.E. Zamon
We used a combination of seabird data (both fishery-dependent and fishery-independent) and fishing-effort data to evaluate the relative fisheries risk of five west coast groundfish fisheries and oneshrimp fishery to black-footed (Phoebastria nigripes), short-tailed (P. albatrus) and Laysan albatrosses(P. immutabilis). To assess risk, an overlap index was derived as the product of total fishing effort andat-sea survey density of black-footed albatross. This index was used as the primary tool to estimate over-lap with the endangered, relatively rare short-tailed albatross, which show similar habitat utilizationfrom satellite telemetry tracks. Telemetry data indicate Laysan albatross primarily occur offshore beyondobserved fishing effort. Black-footed and short-tailed albatross-fishery overlap was highest at the shelf-break (201–1000 m) north of 36◦N. Overlap and reported albatross mortality indicate that the sablefish(Anoplopoma fimbria) longline and Pacific hake (Merluccius productus) catcher-processor fisheries posethe greatest risk to these species; the near-shore rockfish (Seabastes spp.) longline, pink shrimp (Pandalusjordani) trawl, California halibut (Paralichthys californicus) trawl, and non-hake groundfish trawl fisheriespose relatively little risk. Implementing proven seabird bycatch-reduction measures will likely minimizealbatross mortality in the highest-risk fishery, sablefish longline.© 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Scales and mechanisms of marine hotspot formation
Elliott L. Hazen, Robert M. Suryan, Jarrod A. Santora, Steven J. Bograd, Yutaka Watanuki, Rory P. Wilson
Identifying areas of high species diversity and abundance is important for understanding ecological processes and conservation planning. These areas serve as foraging habitat or important breeding or settlement areas for multiple species, and are often termed ‘hotspots’. Marine hotspots have distinct biophysical features that lead to their formation, persistence, and recurrence, and that make them important oases in oceanic seascapes. Building upon a session at the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES), this Theme Section explores the scales and mechanisms underlying hotspot formation. Fundamentally, understanding the mechanisms of hotspot formation is important for determining how hotspots may shift relative to ocean features and climate change, which is a prerequisite for determining management priorities.