Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

An ocean observation system for monitoring the affects of climate change on the ecology and sustainability of pelagic fisheries in the Pacific Ocean

  • Published:
Climatic Change Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Climate change presents an emerging challenge to the sustainable management of tuna fisheries, and robust information is essential to ensure future sustainability. Climate and harvest affect tuna stocks, populations of non-target, dependent species and the ecosystem. To provide relevant advice we need an improved understanding of oceanic ecosystems and better data to parameterise the models that forecast the impacts of climate change. Currently ocean-wide data collection in the Pacific Ocean is primarily restricted to oceanographic data. However, the fisheries observer programs that operate in the region offer an opportunity to collect the additional information on the mid and upper trophic levels of the ecosystem that is necessary to complement this physical data, including time-series of distribution, abundance, size, composition and biological information on target and non-target species and mid trophic level organisms. These observer programs are in their infancy, with limited temporal and spatial distribution but recent international and national policy decisions have been made to expand their coverage. We identify a number of actions to initiate this monitoring including: consolidating collaborations to ensure the use of best quality data; developing consistency between sub-regional observer programmes to ensure that they meet the objectives of ecosystem monitoring; interrogating of existing time series to determine the most appropriate spatial template for monitoring; and exploring existing ecosystem models to identify suitable indicators of ecosystem status and change. The information obtained should improve capacity to develop fisheries management policies that are resilient and can be adapted to climate change.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig 2
Fig 3
Fig 4
Fig 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allain V, Nicol S, Essington TE, Okey TA, Olson RJ, Kirby DS (2007) An Ecopath with Ecosim model of the Western and Central Pacific Ocean warm pool pelagic ecosystem. WCPFC-SC3-EB SWG/IP-8. http://www.wcpfc.int

  • Bakun A, Weeks SJ (2006) Adverse feedback sequences in exploited marine systems: are deliberate interruptive actions warranted? Fish Fish 7:316–333

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baum JK, Worm B (2009) Cascading top-down effects of changing oceanic predator abundances. J Anim Ecol 78:699–714

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bell JD, Andrew NL, Batty MJ, Chapman LB, Dambacher JM, Dawson B, Ganachaud AS, Gehrke PC, Hampton J, Hobday AJ, Hoegh-Guldberg O, Johnson JE, Kinch JP, Le Borgne R, Lehodey P, Lough JM, Pickering TD, Pratchett MS, Vunisea A, Waycott M (2011) Adapting tropical Pacific fisheries and aquaculture to climate change: management measures, policies and investments. In: Bell JD, Johnson JE, Hobday AJ (eds) Vulnerability of tropical Pacific fisheries and aquaculture to climate change. Secretariat of the Pacific Community, New Caledonia

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernal P (2011) Putting the ocean under review. Science 332:305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bigelow K, Hoyle S (2009) Standardixed CPUE for distant water fleets targeting south Pacific albacore. WCPFC-SC5-SA-WP-5. http://www.wcpfc.int

  • Bograd SJ, Block BA, Costa DP, Godely BJ (2010) Biologging technologies: new tools for conservation. Introduction. Endanger Species Res 10:1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boyd I, Wanless S, Camphuysen CJ (eds) (2006) Top predators in marine ecosystems. Their role in monitoring and management. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Casini M, Hjelm J, Molinero JC, Lövgren J, Cardinale M, Bartolino V, Belgrano A, Kornilovs G (2009) Trophic cascades promote threshold-like shifts in pelagic marine ecosystems. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 106:197–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang SK, Hoyle S, Liu HI (2010) Catch rate standardization for yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) in Taiwan’s distant-water longline fishery in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, with consideration of target change. Fish Res 107:210–220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chavez FP, Ryan J, Lluch-Cota SE, Ñiquen CM (2003) From anchovies to sardines and back: multidecadal change in the Pacific Ocean. Science 299:217–221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christensen V, Pauly D (1992) Ecopath II: a software for balancing steady-state ecosystem models and calculating network characteristics. Ecol Model 61:169–185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christensen V, Walters CJ (2004) Ecopath with Ecosim: methods, capabilities and limitations. Ecol Model 172:109–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke S, Harley S, Hoyle S, Rice J (2011) An indicator-based analysis of key shark species based on data held by SPC-OFP. WCPFC-SC7 – EB-WP-01. http://www.wcpfc.int

  • Coll M, Libralato S (2012) Contributions of food-web modelling for an Ecosystem Approach of Marine Resource Management in the Mediterranean Sea. Fish Fish 13:60–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cotter AJR, Pilling GM (2007) Landings, logbooks, and observer surveys: improving the protocols for sampling commercial fisheries. Fish Fish 8:123–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cox SP, Martell SJD, Walters CJ, Essington TE, Kitchell JF, Boggs C, Kaplan I (2002) Reconstructing ecosystem dynamics in the central Pacific Ocean, 1952–1998. I. Estimating population biomass and recruitment of tunas and billfishes. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 59:1724–1735

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dambacher JM, Li HW, Rossignol PA (2002) Relevance of community structure in assessing indeterminacy of ecological predictions. Ecology 83:1372–1385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dambacher JM, Young JW, Olson RJ, Allain V, Galván-Magaña F, Lansdell MJ, Bocanegra-Castillo N, Alatorre-Ramírez V, Cooper SP, Duffy LM (2010) Analyzing pelagic food webs leading to top predators in the Pacific Ocean: a graph-theoretic approach. Prog Oceanogr 86:152–165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farley J, Williams A, Davies C, Nicol S (2011) Regional study of South Pacific albacore population biology: year 3—biological sampling and analysis. WCPFC-SC7–sa-WP-05. http://www.wcpfc.int

  • Frank KT, Petrie B, Choi JS, Leggett WC (2005) Trophic cascades in a formerly cod-dominated ecosystem. Science 308:1621–1623

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frederiksen M, Edwards M, Richardson AJ, Halliday NC, Wanless S (2006) From plankton to top predators: bottom-up control of a marine food web across four trophic levels. J Anim Ecol 75:1259–1268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fulton EA, Link JS, Kaplan IC, Savina-Rolland M, Johnson P, Ainsworth C, Horne P, Gorton R, Gamble RJ, Smith ADM, Smith DC (2011) Lessons in modelling and management of marine ecosystems: the Atlantis experience. Fish Fish 12:171–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garcia SM, Cochrane KL (2005) Ecosystem approach to fisheries: a review of implementation guidelines. ICES J Mar Sci 62:311–318

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths SP, Young JW, Lansdell MJ, Campbell RA, Hampton J, Hoyle SD, Langley A, Bromhead D, Hinton MG (2010) Ecological effects of longline fishing and climate change on the pelagic ecosystem off eastern Australia. Rev Fish Biol Fish 20:239–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gulbrandsen LH (2009) The emergence and effectiveness of the Marine Stewardship Council. Mar Policy 33:654–660

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Handegard NO, Demer D, Kloser RJ, Lehodey P, Maury O, Simard Y (2009) Toward a global ocean Mid-trophic Automatic Acoustic Sampler (MAAS). http://www.oceanobs09.net/cwp/index.php

  • Hays GC, Richardson AJ, Robinson C (2005) Climate change and marine plankton. Trends Ecol Evol 20:337–344

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hobday AJ, Young JW, Moeseneder C, Dambacher JM (2011) Defining dynamic pelagic habitats in oceanic waters off eastern Australia. Deep Sea Res Pt II 58:734–745

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes TP, Bellwood DR, Folke C, Steneck RS, Wilson J (2005) New paradigms for supporting the resilience of marine ecosystems. Trends Ecol Evol 20:380–386

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IATTC (1992) Resolution on the International Dolphin Conservation Program. http://www.iattc.org

  • IATTC (2009) Resolution on the International Dolphin Conservation Program C-09-04. http://www.iattc.org

  • IATTC (2011) Resolution on scientific observers for longline vessels C-11-08. http://www.iattc.org

  • Ichii T, Mahapatra K, Watanabe T, Yatsu A, Inagake D, Okada Y (2002) Occurrence of jumbo flying squid Dosidicus gigas aggregations associated with the countercurrent ridge off the Costa Rica Dome during 1997 El Niño and 1999 La Niña. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 231:151–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacquet J, Hocevar J, Lai S, Majluf P, Pelletier N, Pitcher T, Sala E, Sumaila R, Pauly D (2009) Conserving wild fish in a sea of market-based efforts. Oryx 44:45–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kitchell JF, Essington TE, Boggs CH, Schindler DE, Walters CJ (2002) The role of sharks and longline fisheries in a pelagic ecosystem of the Central Pacific. Ecosystems 5:202–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kloser RJ, Ryan TE, Young JW, Lewis M (2009) Ocean-basin scale acoustic observations of micronekton fishes: potential and challenges. ICES J Mar Sci 66:998–1006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kopf K, Pepperell J, Davie P (2009) A preliminary report on age, growth, and reproductive dynamics of striped marlin (Kajikia audax) in the southwest Pacific Ocean. WCPFC-SC5-BI-WP-01. http://www.wcpfc.int

  • Lawson T (2011) Estimation of catch rates and catches of key shark species in tuna fisheries of the Western and Central Pacific Ocean using observer data. WCPFC-SC7–EB-IP-02. http://www.wcpfc.int

  • Le Borgne R, Allain V, Griffiths SP, Matear RJ, McKinnon AD, Richardson AJ, Young JW (2011) Vulnerability of open ocean food webs in the tropical Pacific to climate change. In: Bell JD, Johnson JE, Hobday AJ (eds) Vulnerability of tropical Pacific fisheries and aquaculture to climate change. Secretariat of the Pacific Community, New Caledonia

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehodey P, Bertignac M, Hampton J, Lewis T, Picaut J (1997) El Niño-southern oscillation and Tuna in the western Pacific. Nature 389:715–718

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lehodey P, Senina I, Murtugudde R (2008) A Spatial Ecosystem And Populations Dynamics Model (SEAPODYM)—modelling of tuna and tuna-like populations. Prog Oceanogr 78:304–318

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lehodey P, Senina I, Sibert J, Bopp L, Calmettes B, Hampton J, Murtugudde R (2010) Preliminary forecasts of population trends for Pacific bigeye tuna under the A2 IPCC scenario. Prog Oceanogr 86:302–315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lehodey P, Hampton J, Brill RW, Nicol S, Senina I, Calmettes B, Pörtner HO, Bopp L, Ilyina T, Bell JD, Sibert J (2011) Vulnerability of oceanic fisheries in the tropical Pacific to climate change. In: Bell JD, Johnson JE, Hobday AJ (eds) Vulnerability of tropical Pacific fisheries and aquaculture to climate change. Secretariat of the Pacific Community, New Caledonia

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehodey P, Senina I, Calmettes B, Hampton J, Nicol S (2012) Modelling the impact of climate change on Pacific skipjack tuna population and fisheries. Climatic Change doi:10.1007/s10584-012-0595-1

  • Libralato S, Christensen V, Pauly D (2006) A method for identifying keystone species in food web models. Ecol Model 195:153–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morato T, Hoyle SD, Allain V, Nicol SJ (2010) Seamounts are hotspots of pelagic biodiversity in the open ocean. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 107:9707–9711

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • OFP (2010) Non-target species interactions with the tuna fisheries of the western and central Pacific Ocean. WCPFC-SC6-EB-IP-08. http://www.wcpfc.int

  • Olson RJ, Watters GM (2003) A model of the pelagic ecosystem in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Inter-Am Trop Tuna Comm Bull 22:133–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Olson R, Popp B, Graham B, Lopez-Ibarra G, Galvan-Magana F, Lennert-Cody C, Bocanegra-Castillo N, Wallsgrove N, Gier E, Alatorre-Ramirez V, Balance L, Fry B (2010) Food-web inferences of stable isotope spatial patterns in copepods and yellowfin tuna in the pelagic eastern Pacific Ocean. Prog Oceanogr 86:124–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paine (1980) Food webs: linkage, interaction strength and community infrastructure. J Anim Ecol 49:666–685

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pascual MA, Kareiva P, Hilborn R (1997) The influence of model structure on conclusions about the variability and harvesting of Serengeti wildebeest. Conserv Biol 11:966–976

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perry AL, Low PJ, Ellis JR, Reynolds JD (2005) Climate change and distribution shifts in marine fishes. Science 308:1912–1915

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • PNA (2010) A third arrangement implementing the Nauru Agreement setting fourth additional terms and conditions of access to the fisheries zones of the parties. http://www.pnatuna.com

  • Polovina JJ (1984) Model of a coral reef ecosystem 1. The Ecopath model and its application to French Frigate Shoals. Coral Reefs 3:1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Polovina JJ, Howell EA, Abecassis M (2008) The ocean’s least productive waters are expanding. Geophys Res Lett 35:L03618. doi:10.1029/2007GL031745

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Polovina JJ, Abecassis M, Howell EA, Woodworth P (2009) Increases in the relative abundance of mid-trophic level fishes concurrent with declines in apex predators in the subtropical North Pacific, 1996–2006. Fish B NOAA 107:523–531

    Google Scholar 

  • Polovina JJ, Dunne JP, Woodworth PA, Howell EA (2011) Projected expansion of the subtropical biome and contraction of the temperate and equatorial upwelling biomes in the North Pacific under global warming. ICES J Mar Sci 68:986–995

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Power ME, Tilman D, Estes JA, Menge BA, Bond WJ, Mills LS, Daily G, Castilla JC, Lubchenco J, Paine RT (1996) Challenges in the quest for keystones. BioScience 46:609–620

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rice J, Garcia S (2011) Fisheries, food security, climate change and biodiversity: characteristics of the sector and perspectives on emerging issues. ICES J Mar Sci 68:1343–1353

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shin Y-J, Bundy A, Shannon LJ, Blanchard J, Chuenpagdee R, Coll M, Knight B, Lynam C, Piet G, Rice J, Richardson AJ, Group IW (2012) Global in scope and regionally rich: an IndiSeas workshop helps shape the future of marine ecosystem indicators. Rev Fish Biol Fish. doi:10.1007/s11160-012-9252-z

  • SPC (2012) 2010 overview and status of WCPO tuna stocks. http://www.spc.int

  • Verity PG, Smetacek V (1996) Organism life cycles, predation, and the structure of marine pelagic ecosystems. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 130:277–293

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watters GM, Olson RJ, Francis RC, Fiedler PC, Polovina JJ, Reilly SB, Aydin KY, Boggs CH, Essington TE, Walters CJ, Kitchell JF (2003) Physical forcing and the dynamics of the pelagic ecosystem in the eastern tropical Pacific: simulations with ENSO-scale and global-warming climate drivers. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 60:1161–1175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • WCPFC (2007) Conservation and Management Measure for regional observer programme 2007-01. http://www.wcpfc.int

  • WCPFC (2008) Conservation and Management Measure for bigeye and yellowfin tuna in the western and central Pacific Ocean 2008-01. http://www.wcpfc.int

  • WCPFC (2009) Conservation and Management Measure on the application of high seas FAD closures and catch retention 2009-02. http://www.wcpfc.int

  • Young JW, Lansdell MJ, Cooper SP, Campbell RA, Juanes F, Guest MA (2010) Feeding ecology and niche segregation in oceanic top predators off eastern Australia. Mar Biol 157:2347–2368

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Young JW, McKinnon AD, Ceccarelli D, Brinkman R, Bustamante R, Cappo M, Dichmont C, Doherty P, Furnas M, Gledhill D, Hutton T, Ridgway K, Smith D, Williams A, Richardson AJ (2012) Workshop on the ecosystem and fisheries of the Coral Sea: an Australian perspective on research and management. Rev Fish Biol Fish. doi:10.1007/s11160-011-9251-5

Download references

Acknowledgments

Financial support was provided by the Global Environment Facility Pacific Islands Oceanic Fisheries Management project, the 9th European Union Development Fund (SCIFISH project), the 10th European Union Development Fund (SCICOFISH project), Australian Government Overseas Aid Program (AusAID) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). We would like to thank the following persons for the provision of data and information on observer programmes: Nick Vogel, Stephen Brouwer, Karl Staisch, Tim Park, Stuart Arceneaux, Lesley Jantz, Eric Forney, John D. Kelly and Kevin Busscher.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Secretariat of the Pacific Community, BP D5, 98848, Noumea, New Caledonia

    Simon J. Nicol, Valerie Allain, Graham M. Pilling, Johann Bell, Peter Sharples, Antony Lewis, John Hampton, Jesus Jurado Molina, Simon Hoyle, Karine Briand & Peter Williams

  2. National Marine Fisheries Service, 2570 Dole Street, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA

    Jeff Polovina

  3. Institut de Ciències del Mar, Passeig Maritim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain

    Marta Coll

  4. Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council, 1164 Bishop Street, Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA

    Paul Dalzell

  5. Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, 8604 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92037-1508, USA

    Robert Olson

  6. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD, 4102, Australia

    Shane Griffiths

  7. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia

    Jeffrey M. Dambacher, Jock Young & Nic Bax

  8. CLS, Space Oceanography Division, 8-10 rue Hermès, 31520, Ramonville, Saint-Agne, France

    Patrick Lehodey

Authors
  1. Simon J. Nicol
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Valerie Allain
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Graham M. Pilling
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jeff Polovina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Marta Coll
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Johann Bell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Paul Dalzell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Peter Sharples
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Robert Olson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Shane Griffiths
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Jeffrey M. Dambacher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Jock Young
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Antony Lewis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. John Hampton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. Jesus Jurado Molina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  16. Simon Hoyle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  17. Karine Briand
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  18. Nic Bax
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  19. Patrick Lehodey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  20. Peter Williams
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Simon J. Nicol.

Additional information

This article is part of the Special Issue on “Climate and Oceanic Fisheries” with Guest Editor James Salinger.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM 1

(DOCX 25 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nicol, S.J., Allain, V., Pilling, G.M. et al. An ocean observation system for monitoring the affects of climate change on the ecology and sustainability of pelagic fisheries in the Pacific Ocean. Climatic Change 119, 131–145 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-012-0598-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-012-0598-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation