Bering Sea Ecosystem Bering Sea Ecosystem Indicators WorkshopIndicators Workshop

Anchorage, AlaskaAnchorage, Alaska

January 25, 2006January 25, 2006

Overview of WorkshopOverview of Workshop

What?What? We seek advice from We seek advice from youyou (the (the scientific community and public) on priority scientific community and public) on priority marine ecosystem objectives, including marine ecosystem objectives, including stressors affecting both ecological and stressors affecting both ecological and human environments. human environments.

How?How? Following some brief introductory Following some brief introductory presentations, a short panel session will be presentations, a short panel session will be used to stimulate your suggestions on used to stimulate your suggestions on priorities, key indicators, and specific priorities, key indicators, and specific operational objectives to be considered by operational objectives to be considered by future management of the Bering Sea. future management of the Bering Sea.

Outline of this WorkshopOutline of this Workshop

1.1. Description of Ecological Indicators project – Description of Ecological Indicators project – Gordon Gordon

2.2. Overview of goals and definitions of an Ecosystem Overview of goals and definitions of an Ecosystem Approach to Management  (EAM) – GordonApproach to Management  (EAM) – Gordon

3.3. Specific objectives for Ecosystem Approach to Specific objectives for Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAF) in the eastern Bering Fisheries Management (EAF) in the eastern Bering Sea – Diana Sea – Diana

4.4. Panel discussion highlighting key eastern Bering Panel discussion highlighting key eastern Bering Sea InfluencesSea Influences

a)a) Climate Stressors – Jim Climate Stressors – Jim b)b) Ecological Processes – Pat Ecological Processes – Pat c)c) Social/Economics – Gunnar Social/Economics – Gunnar

5.5. Feedback and questions from audience – Feedback and questions from audience – you!you!

1. Description of Ecological 1. Description of Ecological Indicators Project Indicators Project

Ecosystem Indicators ProjectEcosystem Indicators Project● Submitted by:Submitted by: North Pacific Marine Science North Pacific Marine Science Organization, PICES (Alex Bychkov and Skip Organization, PICES (Alex Bychkov and Skip McKinnell)McKinnell)

● PIs:PIs: Gordon Kruse (UAF), Glen Jamieson (DFO), Gordon Kruse (UAF), Glen Jamieson (DFO), Pat Livingston (AFSC), and Jim Overland (PMEL)Pat Livingston (AFSC), and Jim Overland (PMEL)

● Collaborator:Collaborator: Ian Perry (DFO) Ian Perry (DFO)

● Funded by:Funded by: NPRB ($100 K) NPRB ($100 K)

● Title:Title: Integration of Ecological Indicators for the Integration of Ecological Indicators for the North Pacific with emphasis on the Bering Sea: A North Pacific with emphasis on the Bering Sea: A Workshop ApproachWorkshop Approach

● Response to NPRB 2005 RFP:Response to NPRB 2005 RFP: Host a workshop Host a workshop to evaluate the utility of ecosystem indicatorsto evaluate the utility of ecosystem indicators

Project ComponentsProject Components

1.1. Involve the Bering Sea and international Involve the Bering Sea and international communities in development of a set of communities in development of a set of operational objectives for the southeast operational objectives for the southeast Bering Sea ecosystemBering Sea ecosystem

a)a) pre-Workshop – Marine Science in Alaska pre-Workshop – Marine Science in Alaska Symposium (January 2006)Symposium (January 2006)

b)b) pre-Workshop – North Pacific Fishery pre-Workshop – North Pacific Fishery Management Council Meeting (February 2006)Management Council Meeting (February 2006)

c)c) Workshop – Seattle (June 1-3, 2006) – 40 Workshop – Seattle (June 1-3, 2006) – 40 invited participantsinvited participants

Project Components (continued)Project Components (continued)2.2. Evaluate two ecosystem status reports with a Evaluate two ecosystem status reports with a

goal to integrate the results and streamline the goal to integrate the results and streamline the presentations:presentations:

a)a) Ecosystem Considerations Chapter of SAFEEcosystem Considerations Chapter of SAFE

b)b) PICES North Pacific Ecosystem Status ReportPICES North Pacific Ecosystem Status Report

3.3. Investigate whole-system methodologies for Investigate whole-system methodologies for indicators that monitor structural changes in the indicators that monitor structural changes in the marine ecosystemmarine ecosystem

4.4. Identify next steps in validating indicator Identify next steps in validating indicator performance, improving the monitoring system to performance, improving the monitoring system to measure key missing indicators, and integration measure key missing indicators, and integration into predictive modelsinto predictive models

Project ProductsProject Products1.1. Pre-workshop activities include drafting three Pre-workshop activities include drafting three

working papers: working papers: a)a) development of operational objectives development of operational objectives

(Gordon)(Gordon)b)b) evaluate two ecosystem status reports (Pat) evaluate two ecosystem status reports (Pat) c)c) investigate whole-ecosystem approaches investigate whole-ecosystem approaches

(Jim)(Jim)

2.2. Workshop synthesis report by PIs plus PICES Workshop synthesis report by PIs plus PICES staff to be published in the staff to be published in the PICES Scientific PICES Scientific Report SeriesReport Series

3.3. Journal article based on our experience with Journal article based on our experience with this projectthis project

2. Overview of an Ecosystem 2. Overview of an Ecosystem Approach to Management  Approach to Management 

(EAM)(EAM)

Similar Terms:Similar Terms:

● Ecosystem Approach to Management (EAM)Ecosystem Approach to Management (EAM)

● Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAF)Management (EAF)

● Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management (EBFM)(EBFM)

But not:But not:

● Ecosystem management (EM)Ecosystem management (EM) – – direct direct manipulation of habitat and populationsmanipulation of habitat and populations in in space, structure and time with a view of space, structure and time with a view of optimizing long-term returns to humans optimizing long-term returns to humans

TerminologyTerminology

Ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF)Ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) – – strives to balance diverse societal objectives, strives to balance diverse societal objectives, by taking into account the knowledge and by taking into account the knowledge and uncertainties of biotic, abiotic, and human uncertainties of biotic, abiotic, and human components of ecosystems and their components of ecosystems and their interactions and applying an integrated interactions and applying an integrated approach to fisheries within ecologically approach to fisheries within ecologically meaningful boundaries.meaningful boundaries.

Adopted by FAO Technical Consultation on Adopted by FAO Technical Consultation on Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management.Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management.

EAF DefinitionEAF Definition

Integrated management (IM)Integrated management (IM) –– comprehensive comprehensive planning/regulation of human activities planning/regulation of human activities towards a complex set of interacting towards a complex set of interacting objectives objectives

● Aims at minimizing user conflicts while Aims at minimizing user conflicts while assuring long-term stabilityassuring long-term stability

● Uses a collaborative approach involving Uses a collaborative approach involving stakeholdersstakeholders

● Considers cumulative effects of human Considers cumulative effects of human activitiesactivities

IM DefinitionIM Definition

Ecosystem servicesEcosystem services – benefits that people – benefits that people receive from ecosystemsreceive from ecosystems● Provisioning Services – products obtainedProvisioning Services – products obtained: : food, food, water, fuel, fiber, biochemicals, genetic resourceswater, fuel, fiber, biochemicals, genetic resources

● Regulating Services – benefits from regulationRegulating Services – benefits from regulation: : climate, disease, water purificationclimate, disease, water purification

● Cultural Services – non-material benefitsCultural Services – non-material benefits: : spiritual, recreational, ecotourism, aesthetic, spiritual, recreational, ecotourism, aesthetic, educationaleducational

● Supporting Services – necessary for production Supporting Services – necessary for production of all other ecosystem servicesof all other ecosystem services: : primary primary production, nutrient cycling,production, nutrient cycling, ecological value, ecological value, sustaining conditions for life on earthsustaining conditions for life on earth

More DefinitionsMore Definitions

Developing an EBFM Plan (from ICES)Developing an EBFM Plan (from ICES)

Scoping of Broad IssuesScoping of Broad Issues

Background Info/AnalysisBackground Info/Analysis

Setting ObjectivesSetting Objectives

Formulating RulesFormulating Rules

Implementation & EnforcementImplementation & Enforcement

MonitoringMonitoring

C

on

sult

atio

n w

ith

Sta

keh

old

ers

Co

nsu

ltat

ion

wit

h S

take

ho

lder

s

3-5 yr3-5 yr

AnnualAnnual

Short-term Assessment & ReviewShort-term Assessment & Review

Long-term Assessment & ReviewLong-term Assessment & Review

Setting ObjectivesSetting Objectives

High-level Policy GoalsHigh-level Policy Goals(economic, social, environmental)(economic, social, environmental)

Broad Objective for FisheryBroad Objective for Fishery

Priority IssuesPriority Issues(level at which management can address)(level at which management can address)

Operational ObjectivesOperational Objectives

Indicators and Performance MeasuresIndicators and Performance Measures

Monitoring ReviewMonitoring Reviewand Performance Evaluationand Performance Evaluation

An ExampleAn ExampleHigh-level Policy Goal:High-level Policy Goal:

● Maintain ecosystem structure and functionMaintain ecosystem structure and function

Broad Objective for Fishery:Broad Objective for Fishery:

● Maintain populations of predators and prey Maintain populations of predators and prey within ecologically viable levelswithin ecologically viable levels

Operational Objectives:Operational Objectives:

● Reduce harvest rate of large predators by 25%Reduce harvest rate of large predators by 25%

● Reduce harvest rate of forage fishes by 25%Reduce harvest rate of forage fishes by 25%

Indicators and Performance Measures:Indicators and Performance Measures:

● Trophic level of the catchTrophic level of the catch

● Size spectrum of the catchSize spectrum of the catch

Time

Indi

cato

rIndicator Performance

measures

Reference point (limit)

Reference point (target)

Indicators and Reference PointsIndicators and Reference Points

Two Broad Overarching Goals (Canada)Two Broad Overarching Goals (Canada)

Sustainability of Sustainability of Human UseHuman Use

Conservation of Conservation of Species & HabitatsSpecies & Habitats

Social & Social & Cultural Cultural

DimensionDimension

Economic Economic DimensionDimension

Environmental Environmental DimensionDimension

Objectives for Conservation (Canada)Objectives for Conservation (Canada)

Conserve Conserve Ecosystem Ecosystem

ComponentsComponents(Biodiversity)(Biodiversity)

Conserve Conserve Component’s Component’s

Role Role (Productivity)(Productivity)

Conserve Conserve Critical Critical

LandscapeLandscape

Maintain Maintain CommunitiesCommunities

Conserve Conserve Physical & Physical & Chemical Chemical PropertiesProperties

Maintain Maintain Primary Primary

ProductivityProductivity

Maintain Maintain SpeciesSpecies

Maintain Maintain PopulationsPopulations

Maintain Maintain Trophic Trophic

StructureStructure

Maintain Maintain Population Population Generation Generation

TimeTime

Conserve Conserve Water Water

QualityQuality

Conserve Conserve Biota Biota

QualityQuality

Potential NOAA High-level Goals Under Potential NOAA High-level Goals Under Discussion for the U.S. Discussion for the U.S.

● Ensure sustainability of resourcesEnsure sustainability of resources

● Conserve biodiversityConserve biodiversity

● Maintain opportunities for economic, Maintain opportunities for economic, social and cultural access to social and cultural access to resourcesresources

““Unpacking” of Operational ObjectivesUnpacking” of Operational Objectives

● High-level policy goalHigh-level policy goal● Broad objectives for each fisheryBroad objectives for each fishery● Operational objectivesOperational objectives● Indicators and performance measuresIndicators and performance measures

Lessons learned by Canada:Lessons learned by Canada:● Unpacking of conceptual objectives needs to Unpacking of conceptual objectives needs to

occur as part of IM processoccur as part of IM process● Tendency to use available data to define Tendency to use available data to define

objectives. Instead it is better to use objectives objectives. Instead it is better to use objectives to guide data collection to guide data collection

● Tendency to focus on one set of objectives as Tendency to focus on one set of objectives as it is difficult to get all relevant expertise it is difficult to get all relevant expertise together at oncetogether at once

ConclusionsConclusions

● We seek your input into priorities, specific We seek your input into priorities, specific operational objectives, and key indicatorsoperational objectives, and key indicators

● We are We are notnot designing an EAF management plan designing an EAF management plan

● Rather we refer to the selected management Rather we refer to the selected management alternative from the Alaska Groundfish Fisheries alternative from the Alaska Groundfish Fisheries Final Programmatic Supplemental Environmental Final Programmatic Supplemental Environmental Impacts Statement (PSEIS) to guide the discussionsImpacts Statement (PSEIS) to guide the discussions

● A short panel session will be used to stimulate A short panel session will be used to stimulate suggestions on priorities, specific operational suggestions on priorities, specific operational objectives, and key indicators to be considered by objectives, and key indicators to be considered by future management of the Bering Sea using the future management of the Bering Sea using the selected management alternative. selected management alternative.