Protection of the ocean

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Protection of the ocean"

June Todd
7 years ago
Views:

1 A case study Protection of the ocean Oceans cover >70% of the earth <1 % of oceans protected from fishing Many species highly reliant on oceans either as sole habitat (whales, fish, etc.) or for feeding (seabirds, turtles, marine mammals, etc.) Approximately 1,000,000,000 people rely on fish as principle protein Argentina Mostly European immigrants Brazil Reliant on oil production and fishing Chile Argentina Uruguay Ecologically rich country 1

2 Oil Production 4 th largest producer of oil in South America Also rely on oil importation Refineries and oil drilling operations located up and down the coast Oil must be transported Argentina Fishing Provides >20,000 jobs Gross value of fishing = $500,000,000 Primary fish = hake, at risk of fishery collapse Pescadilla already collapsed Argentine Coastal Shelf Patagonian Large Marine Ecosystem one of the largest and richest marine ecosystems in the world Highly valued for fishing History of oil production, spills, and overfishing 2

3 Punta Tombo Argentina Largest colony of Magellanic penguins in the world Home to numerous other seabirds and marine mammals Magellanic Penguins Long-lived seabird IUCN near threatened Produce up to two chicks per year Breed and molt from Sept. April Migrate from April to September Indicator species Anthropogenic forces 3

4 Magellanic Penguin Project 1982 PRESENT LONGEST PROJECT IN LATIN AMERICA 6 MONTH FIELD SEASON Yearly Activities Oiling and the early years 4

5 Penguin Oiling 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% % oiled of dead fledglings % oiled of dead adults Penguin Oiling 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% % oiled of dead fledglings % oiled of dead adults Penguin Population at Tombo What do you predict we saw after 1997? 5

6 Penguin Population at Tombo Population = 19 % decline What else could be happening? How does this highlight one of the difficulties with indicator species? What else could be going on? Maybe competition with fisheries What could be done to mitigate this competition? What else could be going on? Maybe competition with fisheries What could be done to mitigate this competition? Marine protected area! 6

7 What else could be going on? Maybe competition with fisheries What could be done to mitigate this competition? Marine protected area! Need to know where birds go and whether distance traveled affects them Satellite tags on penguins Satellite tags on penguins 7

8 Satellite tags on penguins Increased distance decreases reproductive success! Where should we put the MPA? Argentina has one proposal We have another Which is best? Argentina Government Proposal 10 km off coast 8

9 Argentina Government Proposal Will this work? Does it protect the area they forage? Does it protect the area they forage? 9

10 Let s use science! Where should the MPA go? 10 km off coast Where should the MPA go? 10 km off coast 10

11 Is the MPA Effective? It was approved Thursday, December 15 th, 2015 Determine how long birds forage and how much weight they gain Compare when fisheries are open to when they are closed Ongoing project Is the MPA Effective? It was approved Thursday, December 15 th, 2015 Determine how long birds forage and how much weight they gain Compare when fisheries are open to when they are closed Ongoing project Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) 11

12 Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Rotil Communications RFID + Weigh Bridge RFID/Weigh Bridge RFID + Weigh Bridge RFID/Weigh Bridge 12

13 RFID + Weigh Bridge RFID/Weigh Bridge WT Direction ID RFID + Weigh Bridge RFID + Weigh Bridge 13

14 Is the MPA Effective? It was approved Thursday, December 15 th, 2015 Determine how long birds forage and how much weight they gain Compare when fisheries are open to when they are closed Ongoing project Wrap up Combine satellite, RFID, and weigh bridge data Determine: Where birds forage How long they spend foraging How much weight they gain while foraging Use this to determine whether fisheries do impact penguins 14

The Norwegian ecosystem-based management plan for the Barents Sea and sea areas off the Lofoten Islands. The Barents Sea

The Norwegian ecosystem-based management plan for the Barents Sea and sea areas off the Lofoten Islands By: Dr. Erik Olsen, Research Scientist The Barents Sea Continental shelf sea Average depth 230m Area