Marine Conservation: MSY, MPA’s and Aquaculture August 29 th, 2007

Reminders…. Midterm tomorrow –You do NOT need a bluebook –NO calculator needed –Bring pencil, eraser, and well-slept brain Monday is Labor Day Holiday: no class –And no homework!!!!

True/False? Or Multiple ChoiceS

Marine harvest seems to have leveled off… Human population growth has not!!!

The Problem: Source: United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization: The Status of World Fisheries and Aquaculture, 2002

Humans as Optimal Foragers: prey switching

How do countries over-exploit their own resources? Ineffective Management –Trouble assessing population levels Environmental fluctuation Fish dynamics (movement + growth dynamics) Over-reporting catches and subsidies (competition + globalization) –Trouble enforcing limits Technological Advances to catch fish Bycatch

Solution? Set limit on fishing using MSY model

MSY model with Stochasticity

How do countries over-exploit their own resources? Ineffective Management –Trouble assessing population levels Environmental fluctuation Fish dynamics (movement + growth dynamics) Over-reporting catches and subsidies (competition + globalization) –Trouble enforcing limits Technological Advances to catch fish Bycatch

Solution? Set limit on fishing using MSY model

Population growth rate isn’t always density dependent!

Set limit on fishing using MSY model How does curve change if fish grows more slowly than expected?

Dynamics of Orange Roughy: yummy, mild fish

Orange Roughy Population Decline

How do countries over-exploit their own resources? Ineffective Management –Trouble assessing population levels Environmental fluctuation Fish dynamics (movement + growth dynamics) Over-reporting catches and subsidies (competition + globalization) –Trouble enforcing limits Technological Advances to catch fish Bycatch

Bycatch: Externalities

Management Options Technology –Limit technology –Use technology to decrease bycatch

“Fishing down” the food web

The Role of Human Values and Perceptions Scarcity price increases: Expected Value of fishing?

Management Options Fix problems identified with privatization –Better population assessments –Technology –Fines/Permits –Inform Consumers-change perceptions –Reductionsist approach --- Shift focus from individual stocks to ecosystems --- Marine Reserves Aquaculture Next time!

Wetlands and Aquaculture: Conversion of Mangroves to Shrimp Farms Mangrove forests once covered 3/4 of the coastlines of tropical and subtropical countries. Today, less than 50% remain. Many factors contribute to mangrove forest loss, including the charcoal and timber industries, urban growth pressures, and mounting pollution problems. However, one of the most significant causes of mangrove forest destruction in the past decade has been the consumer demand for luxury shrimp The Rise and Fall of the Blue Revolution: Article by Alfredo Quarto published in the East Africa Wildlife Society's magazine SWARA

AQUACULTURE: The Blue Revolution?

Aquaculture Status: fastest growing food production industry in the world (  1/3 of all fishery landings)

Aquaculture: Fish Farms Energy flow perspective –Fish vs. Cows –Salmon vs. carp vs. filter feeders –Farmed salmon vs. wild salmon

Sustainable Aquaculture?

Aquaculture: Risks –Impact on wild fish populations Feed for farmed fish ‘Seed’ for farmed fish Fish escapes- invasive species –Algal blooms –Oxygen depletion –Downstream impacts –Disease –(Wet)land conversion

Aquaculture: Integrated Systems Approach

BENEFITS: Waste = food Whole is greater than sum of parts COSTS/RISKS: Pesticide use Labor intensive Limit to fish density

What Can You Do? Vote with your dollars! Get involved! Educate others!

Marine Protected Areas “Any area of the marine environment that has been reserved by federal, state, territorial, tribal or local laws or regulations to provide lasting protection to part or all of the natural or cultural resources therein” (Executive Order 13158). ZONING How can MPA’s improve upon traditional management of individual fish stocks?

Marine Protected Areas Channel Islands MPA Objectives: Protection of representative and unique habitats; Achievement of sustainable fisheries in the Channel Islands; and Minimization of short-term economic losses to all resource users.

CINMS MPA Process:

"The best available science demonstrates that the minimum area set aside should be no lower than 30%, and perhaps 50%, of representative and unique marine habitats, features, and populations of interest in all bioregions of the CINMS. Because of the complexity upon which this estimate is based, evaluation of its effectiveness is necessary to determine whether alteration (reduction or increase) is appropriate based on future assessments." –Science Advisory Panel, CINMS Science Advisory Panel sets Minimum Viable Area

“I do not believe that the MRWG can satisfy the goals of biodiversity protection and sustainable fisheries by breaking from some bottom-level of protection, as recommended by the Science Panel. There will be economic impacts, and we should work hard together in this community to equitably and responsibly deal with these impacts but not by compromising on Science Panels recommendation. ” -Dr. Michael McGinnis (in a letter explaining his resignation from the marine resources working group, CINMS) The Trouble with Minimum Viable Area

Stakeholders Conservationists Commercial Fishermen (lobster, urchin, squid, kelp..) Recreational Fishermen Recreational Divers Tourist Boat Operators Scientists Others????? How can we ‘optimize’ across multiple competing objectives? How can we ‘optimize’ across multiple competing objectives? Is there inherent conflict? SPILLOVER EFFECT?

Channel Islands Marine Protected Areas

Great Barrier Reef: MPA Zoning

GBR vs. CINMS MPA’s Zoning (2 levels vs.7 levels) Compensation for displaced fishermen Decision-making (CINMS: consensus-based) Community input (forum, transparency)

MPA’s: Will They Work? Enforcement: Setting boundaries in the ocean Paper-parks Role of Technology Monitoring BACI Creating of jobs Unintended Consequences

Some Pro’s and Con’s of MPA’s + (can) protect long-term viability of fisheries + decrease habitat destruction and bycatch + promote non-extractive uses of marine areas + establish ‘baseline’ for scientific studies - Unintended consequence - Can’t fence in marine resources - Can’t fence out pollution, disruption in nearby areas

The Future: Global MPA’s? At the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002, coastal nations pledged to turn the tide on this decline by creating national networks of marine parks by "But until now, it has been unclear how much it will cost countries to deliver on their promises," said Scott Burns, director of WWF's Marine Conservation program. "Making this commitment to marine protection will require international effort on an unprecedented scale. Just half a percent of the sea lies within marine parks today, compared to 12 percent of the land." Projected Cost: estimated $12.4 to 13.9 billion/yr for 30 percent coverage Compared to: Compared to: Americans spend an estimated $20 billion on ice cream And 8 billion on facial cosmetics

Summary Maximum Sustainable Yield –Why hasn’t it worked? –Reductionist approach Aquaculture –Types –Potential impacts: wetland loss, impact on marine fisheries –Energy flow perspective –Risks –Integrated systems approach Marine Protected Areas –Stakeholders –Zoning Minimum Viable Area –Pro’s and Con’s