September 2002
From Ecological Society of America
Symposium to address effects of fishing on ocean bottom habitats Many fisheries scientists are concerned about how fishing affects benthic, or ocean bottom, habitats. Heavily weighted dredges and trawl nets used to catch groundfish or shellfish are thought to flatten the ocean bottom, reducing the crevices and hiding spaces needed by young fish. Also, worms and other benthic invertebrates crucial to the marine ecosystem may be crushed, buried, or disturbed. Questions remain about how long it takes for the ocean floor to recover and the long term effects of fishing on diversity and productivity.Benthic habitats are poorly understood to begin with, so scientists have difficulty determining what change is natural and what changes are caused by human activities. Research is also needed to determine if the disturbance of benthic environments by various gear types increases productivity by releasing nutrients from these sediments in much the same way that upwelling of deep, nutrient-rich water in certain parts of the world's oceans fuels surface plankton blooms and food webs. Ongoing research is examining the potential for fishing gear modifications and new fishing techniques to minimize the possible harm, whether rotating closures may allow the ocean bottom to recover, and if permanent marine protected areas are needed. The issue has important implications for the short and long term livelihoods of fishing communities and may affect U.S. seafood prices and supply. Focusing on these issues, the Symposium will open with an introduction exploring earth science, biology and the economics of managing natural resources. From there, the meeting will revolve around five themes: defining the issues; characterizing and understanding natural change; ecological and economic effects of fishing; minimizing adverse effects of fishing on benthic habitats; and exploring future directions. Presentation topics include:
� Assessing the socioeconomic implications of marine resource management for the Pacific coast
� Impacts to coral reef benthos from lobster trap gear in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
� Analyzing time-lapse photographs of the sea floor for changes in benthic community activity
� The effects of shrimp trawling on snow crabs in the northwest Atlantic
� Impacts of commercial bottom trawling on the sediment characteristics and benthic community of essential fish habitat on the inner Bering Sea shelf
� Assessment and recovery of benthic habitats affected by fishing
� Challenges of fisheries management: balancing conservation and preservation of fish habitat The symposium is sponsored by the American Fisheries Society, the Ecological Society of America, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the US Geological Survey. For more information visit: http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/bh2002/. Held in Tampa, Florida, the meeting will draw over 200 geologists, sociologists, managers, researchers, and conservationists from around the world. | |