CURRENT PROJECTS
Combining innovative technology and oceanographic remote sensing techniques with the biogeography and movement of marine species
PROJECT DYNAMAR
Dynamic Marine Animal Research
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Setting the stage for Dynamic Ocean Management in Costa Rica
The Pacific coast of Costa Rica is home to a diverse and valuable (ecologically and economically) array of oceanic predators including billfishes (sailfish, marlins, etc), tunas, sharks, and sea turtles. Sustaining commercial and recreational fisheries in this region is challenging because of limited data, the wide variety of competing interests, and perhaps an increasing influence from ocean climate variation. In addition, marine animals live in a highly dynamic habitat, and our management strategies need to reflect that. In order to conserve protected species and maintain fisheries, we need to consider a more comprehensive approach to management that specifically considers the complex spatial dynamics of species distributions and how those overlap with human activities. We are discovering globally that Dynamic Ocean Management and Mobile Marine Protected Areas, may allow conservation and fishing objectives to be achieved at the same time, but only if we fully understand the spatial dynamics of key species.
The primary objective of this research program is to conduct the science necessary to set the stage for applying a novel approach to the management of pelagic predators, known as Dynamic Ocean Management. This approach combines animal movement data collected by satellite tags, with environmental data which is modeled or collected by satellites, to model the movements and seasonal distributions of key recreational fish species (in our case, sailfish and blue marlin). Understanding the environmental conditions driving the movements of these animals will allow us to create dynamic predictions, like a weather forecast, of where these marine animals are likely to be, or not be, throughout the year. This work potentially allows managers to reduce conflicts among fishery sectors targeting different species and to reduce bycatch of non-target and protected species.
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The ability to forecast the movement of pelagic species for Dynamic Ocean Management or Mobile Marine Protected Areas has been proven scientifically (https://news.stanford.edu/2018/05/30/new-tool-improves-fishing-efficiency-sustainability/), but to date has not been adopted widely in fisheries management. This research program aims to set the stage for this cutting-edge approach to fisheries management in Costa Rica in order to protect both the diversity of life and fishing interests found along its Pacific coast.
OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY AND IMPACTS ON FISH AND FISHERIES
Managing a Multi-Use Ocean
Technological advances and recent changes in national energy policy objectives have increased the interest in offshore wind energy. A challenge with managing a multi-use coastal ocean is developing a spatial management plan that accounts for the dynamic nature of marine species distributions and human activities. Understanding which species may be impacted by the installation and presence of these wind turbines is necessary for managers to minimize interactions with these species for compliance with the National Environmental Policy, Endangered Species, and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Acts.
BRIEF ABSTRACT: There is increasing interest in the development of offshore wind energy projects to supply electricity to growing coastal populations. How these projects may effect commercially or ecologically important fish species is unknown. This study was conducted to document the occurrence and distribution of a commercial fish species, Winter Skate (Leucoraja ocellata), and an endangered species, Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus), over a two-year period in the Delaware Wind Energy Lease Area using acoustic telemetry. A total of 124,710 acoustic detections from 26 species were recorded at stations around the perimeter of the Delaware Wind Energy Lease Area, allowing us to summarize areas of intensive use, and environmental predictors of occurrence of key species.
BACKGROUND: There are 10 wind energy lease areas in the Mid-Atlantic. Wind energy lease areas are often in coastal waters (< 30 m), where their impacts on coastal marine fish and mammals is unknown. To better understand the impacts that installing and maintaining large wind turbine structures may have on the local fish species, we need to have a baseline dataset describing their occurrence and distribution in project areas. Information on the seasonal occurrence, spatial distribution, and residency/movement behavior of key species is useful for environmental impact assessments and project development. Quantitative estimates of the likelihood and degree of impact of offshore wind energy projects may have on species in the region can be derived from data collected during this study.
OBJECTIVES: Characterize the seasonal occurrence, spatial distribution and residency/migratory behavior of Atlantic Sturgeon and Winter Skate in the Delaware Wind Energy lease area, as well as other species detected by acoustic telemetry receiver arrays over a two-year period.
METHODS: Twenty-five VEMCO acoustic receiver stations were deployed around the perimeter of the Delaware Wind Energy Lease Area between Feb 2017 and Feb 2019. In addition, 100 VEMCO acoustic transmitters were deployed in Atlantic Sturgeon and Winter Skate in April 2017. Acoustic receivers were downloaded on a bi-monthly schedule, and detection data was matched to transmitter codes in the Atlantic Cooperative Tagging Network database. The seasonal occurrence, distribution, movement behavior and habitat preferences of Atlantic Sturgeon and Winter Skate were quantified from the acoustic detection dataset.
RESULTS: A total of 124,710 acoustic detections from 26 species were recorded at stations around the perimeter of the Delaware Wind Energy Lease Area. Atlantic Sturgeon were observed during all months of the two-year study period, however occurred most frequently in the late fall/early winter. Atlantic Sturgeon were also most concentrated in the northern portion of the study region, except in the late fall/early winter when they were detected throughout the entire array. Winter Skate occurred less commonly and were concentrated in the shallowest portion of the study region. Both species appear to be related to bottom type and topography, which is most distinctive in the northern portion of the Delaware Wind Energy Area.
CONCLUSIONS: It will be difficult for offshore wind energy development projects to avoid impacting Atlantic Sturgeon, which occur throughout the entire lease area, and can occur year-round. Predictive species distribution models revealed that Atlantic Sturgeon are highly related to bottom type and topography in this region, indicating that it may be an important feeding ground for this species. Winter Skate are less likely to be impacted by construction efforts, or the presence of these structures, as their occurrence is much less common in the lease area. Construction during the summer months would likely impact the fewest number of individual animals, however there is an increased presence of highly migratory and often protected elasmobranch species transiting through the lease area during the summer.