GEF International Waters ConferenceSalvador, Brazil20-27 June 2005

APPLICATION OF LME INDICATORS:

SCOTIAN SHELF LME and

THE U.S. NORTHEAST SHELF LME2005-2010

10 U.S. LMEs10 U.S. LMEs

THE SCOTIAN SHELF LME

From: Frank, Petrie, Choi, and Leggett. 2005. Trophic cascades in a formerly cod-dominated ecosystem. Science 308:1621.

CHANGING CONDITIONS

From: Choi, Frank, Leggett, and Drinkwater, 2004. Transition to an alternate state in a continental shelf ecosystem. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 61:505-510

NORTHEAST SHELF LME

An undulating oceanographic recorder (above), towed behind a ship, is used to collect ecological parameters needed to assess the state of the marine ecosystem (left).

PRODUCTIVITY INDICATORS

Northeast Shelf Meteorology

Climate Drivers of the Northeast Shelf Ecosystem

• Warm Gulf Stream waters• Cold Scotian Shelf incursions• Winter North American cold air• Warm Gulf of Mexico air• Position of westerly North American jet

air stream

from O. Hertzman, 1996

General Circulation of the Northeast Shelf Ecosystem

FISH AND FISHERIES INDICATORS

• Demersal species surveys• Pelagic species surveys• Ichthyoplankton surveys• Invertebrate surveys (clams, scallops,

shrimp, lobster, squid)• Essential fish habitat• Marine protected areas

COMMON TERMS from Our Living Oceans Report

• Recent average yield (RAY)• Current potential yield (CPY)• Long term potential yield (LTPY)• Stock level relative to LTPY• Status of resource utilization• Threatened or endangered• Potential biological removal (PBR / MMPA)

Figure 6-8. Top - Atlantic herring commercial landings and spawning stock biomass, 1967 through 1996 (thousand metric tons). Bottom - Atlantic mackerel landings and spawning stock biomass, 1963 through 1996 (thousand metric tons).

500

400

300

200

100

0

19981990198019701966

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Year

Spawning Stock BiomassCommercial Landings

HERRING

3000

3500

4000

Spaw

ning

Bio

mas

s (m

etric

tons

, 000

s)

Landings (metric tons, 000s)

Year

500

400

300

200

100

0

19981990198019701962

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500Spawning Stock BiomassCommercial Landings

MACKEREL

Spaw

ning

Bio

mas

s (m

etric

tons

, 000

s)

Landings (metric tons, 000s)

Georges Bank Yellowtail

Year1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Spa

wni

ng S

tock

Bio

mas

s ('0

00 m

t) &

Rec

ruitm

ent (

mill

ions

, age

1)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Exp

loita

tion

Rat

e

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Spawning Stock BiomassRecruitmentExploitation Rate

Georges Bank Haddock

Year1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Spa

wni

ng S

tock

Bio

mas

s ('0

00 m

t) &

Rec

ruitm

ent (

mill

ions

, age

1)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Exp

loita

tion

Rat

e

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

0.30

0.35

0.40

Spawning Stock BiomassRecruitmentExploitation Rate

1980 1985 1990 1995 20001

2

3

4

5

6

Age2 Age3 Age4 Age5

Wei

ght a

t age

, kg

Year

Georges Bank Cod

1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

1

2

3 Age2 Age3 Age4 Age5

Wei

ght a

t age

, kg

Year

Georges Bank Haddock

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9 Age2 Age3 Age4 Age5

Wei

ght a

t age

, kg

Year

Georges Bank Yellowtail