1
|
Lavers JL, Bond AL. Beyond the surface: Seabirds and plastics as indicators in a large, remote marine protected area. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 205:116574. [PMID: 38857556 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Marine protected areas (MPAs) are an important conservation tool for species and habitats; however, they are not a panacea solution. For example, MPAs provide little protection from plastic pollution which travels vast distances on ocean currents. Here we document exposure of juvenile Christmas Shearwaters (Puffinus nativitatis) to plastics on uninhabited Ducie Atoll in the remote South Pacific. Despite being surrounded by the very large Pitcairn Islands MPA, most birds (68.7 %; n = 16) contained 3.8 ± 4.1 pieces of ingested plastic. Unexpectedly, the number, mass and frequency of occurrence of plastic in two age classes (young downy chicks and fledglings) was similar. While the reason for this is unknown, it may suggest birds do not acquire new plastic items, or are able to rid themselves of plastics, beyond a certain age. We discuss the potential health consequences of plastic ingestion in Christmas Shearwaters and call for further research of this poorly studied species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Lavers
- Bird Group, Natural History Museum, Akeman Street, Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 6AP, United Kingdom; Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation, 11a Shelden Road, Esperance, Western Australia 6450, Australia.
| | - Alexander L Bond
- Bird Group, Natural History Museum, Akeman Street, Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 6AP, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Blanluet A, Game ET, Dunn DC, Everett JD, Lombard AT, Richardson AJ. Evaluating ecological benefits of oceanic protected areas. Trends Ecol Evol 2024; 39:175-187. [PMID: 37778906 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Oceans beyond the continental shelf represent the largest yet least protected environments. The new agreement to increase protection targets to 30% by 2030 and the recent United Nations (UN) High Seas Treaty try to address this gap, and an increase in the declaration of oceanic Marine Protected Areas (oMPAs) in waters beyond 200 m in depth is likely. Here we find that there is contradictory evidence concerning the benefits of oMPAs in terms of protecting pelagic habitats, providing refuge for highly mobile species, and potential fisheries benefits. We discover a mismatch between oMPA management objectives focusing on protection of pelagic habitats and biodiversity, and scientific research focusing on fisheries benefits. We suggest that the solution is to harness emerging technologies to monitor inside and outside oMPAs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Blanluet
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia; The Nature Conservancy, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia.
| | - Edward T Game
- The Nature Conservancy, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia
| | - Daniel C Dunn
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia; Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science (CBCS), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072, QLD, Australia
| | - Jason D Everett
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia; Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) Environment, Queensland Biosciences Precinct (QBP), St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia; Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Amanda T Lombard
- Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa
| | - Anthony J Richardson
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia; Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science (CBCS), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072, QLD, Australia; Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) Environment, Queensland Biosciences Precinct (QBP), St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Iacarella JC, Burke L, Clyde G, Wicks A, Clavelle T, Dunham A, Rubidge E, Woods P. Monitoring temporal and spatial trends of illegal and legal fishing in marine conservation areas across Canada's three oceans. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Josephine C. Iacarella
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Cultus Lake Labs Cultus Lake British Columbia V2R 5B6 Canada
| | - Lily Burke
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada Institute of Ocean Sciences Sidney British Columbia V8L 4B2 Canada
| | - Georgia Clyde
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada Institute of Ocean Sciences Sidney British Columbia V8L 4B2 Canada
| | - Adam Wicks
- Ebb and Flow Analytics 199 Petworth Drive Victoria British Columbia V9E 1J4 Canada
| | - Tyler Clavelle
- Global Fishing Watch 1025 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 200 Washington DC 20036 USA
| | - Anya Dunham
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada Pacific Biological Station Nanaimo British Columbia V9T 6N7 Canada
| | - Emily Rubidge
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada Institute of Ocean Sciences Sidney British Columbia V8L 4B2 Canada
| | - Paul Woods
- Global Fishing Watch 1025 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 200 Washington DC 20036 USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Goethel DR, Omori KL, Punt AE, Lynch PD, Berger AM, de Moor CL, Plagányi ÉE, Cope JM, Dowling NA, McGarvey R, Preece AL, Thorson JT, Chaloupka M, Gaichas S, Gilman E, Hesp SA, Longo C, Yao N, Methot RD. Oceans of plenty? Challenges, advancements, and future directions for the provision of evidence-based fisheries management advice. REVIEWS IN FISH BIOLOGY AND FISHERIES 2023; 33:375-410. [PMID: 36124316 PMCID: PMC9476434 DOI: 10.1007/s11160-022-09726-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Marine population modeling, which underpins the scientific advice to support fisheries interventions, is an active research field with recent advancements to address modern challenges (e.g., climate change) and enduring issues (e.g., data limitations). Based on discussions during the 'Land of Plenty' session at the 2021 World Fisheries Congress, we synthesize current challenges, recent advances, and interdisciplinary developments in biological fisheries models (i.e., data-limited, stock assessment, spatial, ecosystem, and climate), management strategy evaluation, and the scientific advice that bridges the science-policy interface. Our review demonstrates that proliferation of interdisciplinary research teams and enhanced data collection protocols have enabled increased integration of spatiotemporal, ecosystem, and socioeconomic dimensions in many fisheries models. However, not all management systems have the resources to implement model-based advice, while protocols for sharing confidential data are lacking and impeding research advances. We recommend that management and modeling frameworks continue to adopt participatory co-management approaches that emphasize wider inclusion of local knowledge and stakeholder input to fill knowledge gaps and promote information sharing. Moreover, fisheries management, by which we mean the end-to-end process of data collection, scientific analysis, and implementation of evidence-informed management actions, must integrate improved communication, engagement, and capacity building, while incorporating feedback loops at each stage. Increasing application of management strategy evaluation is viewed as a critical unifying component, which will bridge fisheries modeling disciplines, aid management decision-making, and better incorporate the array of stakeholders, thereby leading to a more proactive, pragmatic, transparent, and inclusive management framework-ensuring better informed decisions in an uncertain world. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11160-022-09726-7.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R. Goethel
- Auke Bay Laboratories, Marine Ecology and Stock Assessment (MESA) Program, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Juneau, AK 99801 USA
| | - Kristen L. Omori
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA 23062 USA
| | - André E. Punt
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-5020 USA
| | - Patrick D. Lynch
- Office of Science and Technology, NOAA Fisheries, Silver Spring, MD 20910 USA
| | - Aaron M. Berger
- Fisheries Resource, Analysis, and Monitoring (FRAM) Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Newport, OR 97365 USA
| | - Carryn L. de Moor
- Marine Resource Assessment and Management (MARAM) Group, Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701 South Africa
| | | | - Jason M. Cope
- Fisheries Resource, Analysis, and Monitoring (FRAM) Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Seattle, WA 98112 USA
| | | | | | - Ann L. Preece
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia
| | - James T. Thorson
- Habitat and Ecological Process Research (HEPR) Program, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Seattle, WA 98115 USA
| | - Milani Chaloupka
- Ecological Modelling Services Pty Ltd & Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4067 Australia
| | - Sarah Gaichas
- Resource Evaluation and Assessment Division, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Woods Hole, MA 02543 USA
| | | | - Sybrand A. Hesp
- Western Australian Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Government of Western Australia, North Beach, WA 6920 Australia
| | - Catherine Longo
- Science & Standards, Marine Stewardship Council, EC1A 2DH London, U.K
| | - Nan Yao
- Oceanic Fisheries Programme, The Pacific Community (SPC), B.P. D5, 98848 Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - Richard D. Methot
- Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, Seattle, WA 98112 USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Griffin LP, Casselberry GA, Lowerre-Barbieri SK, Acosta A, Adams AJ, Cooke SJ, Filous A, Friess C, Guttridge TL, Hammerschlag N, Heim V, Morley D, Rider MJ, Skomal GB, Smukall MJ, Danylchuk AJ, Brownscombe JW. Predator-prey landscapes of large sharks and game fishes in the Florida Keys. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2584. [PMID: 35333436 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Interspecific interactions can play an essential role in shaping wildlife populations and communities. To date, assessments of interspecific interactions, and more specifically predator-prey dynamics, in aquatic systems over broad spatial and temporal scales (i.e., hundreds of kilometers and multiple years) are rare due to constraints on our abilities to measure effectively at those scales. We applied new methods to identify space-use overlap and potential predation risk to Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) and permit (Trachinotus falcatus) from two known predators, great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran) and bull (Carcharhinus leucas) sharks, over a 3-year period using acoustic telemetry in the coastal region of the Florida Keys (USA). By examining spatiotemporal overlap, as well as the timing and order of arrival at specific locations compared to random chance, we show that potential predation risk from great hammerhead and bull sharks to Atlantic tarpon and permit are heterogeneous across the Florida Keys. Additionally, we find that predator encounter rates with these game fishes are elevated at specific locations and times, including a prespawning aggregation site in the case of Atlantic tarpon. Further, using machine learning algorithms, we identify environmental variability in overlap between predators and their potential prey, including location, habitat, time of year, lunar cycle, depth, and water temperature. These predator-prey landscapes provide insights into fundamental ecosystem function and biological conservation, especially in the context of emerging fishery-related depredation issues in coastal marine ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucas P Griffin
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Grace A Casselberry
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Susan K Lowerre-Barbieri
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
| | - Alejandro Acosta
- South Florida Regional Lab, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Marathon, Florida, USA
| | - Aaron J Adams
- Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, Miami, Florida, USA
- Florida Atlantic University, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Fort Pierce, Florida, USA
| | - Steven J Cooke
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alex Filous
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Claudia Friess
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
| | | | - Neil Hammerschlag
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Vital Heim
- Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation, Bimini, The Bahamas
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Zoology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Danielle Morley
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
- South Florida Regional Lab, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Marathon, Florida, USA
| | - Mitchell J Rider
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Gregory B Skomal
- Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Andy J Danylchuk
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Forrest JAH, Bouchet PJ, Barley SC, McLennan AG, Meeuwig JJ. True blue: Temporal and spatial stability of pelagic wildlife at a submarine canyon. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- J. A. H. Forrest
- School of Biological Sciences University of Western Australia 35 Stirling Hwy Crawley Perth6009Australia
| | - P. J. Bouchet
- School of Biological Sciences University of Western Australia 35 Stirling Hwy Crawley Perth6009Australia
- School of Ocean Sciences Bangor University LL59 5AB Menai Bridge BangorUK
| | - S. C. Barley
- School of Biological Sciences University of Western Australia 35 Stirling Hwy Crawley Perth6009Australia
| | - A. G. McLennan
- School of Biological Sciences University of Western Australia 35 Stirling Hwy Crawley Perth6009Australia
| | - J. J. Meeuwig
- School of Biological Sciences University of Western Australia 35 Stirling Hwy Crawley Perth6009Australia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Jorgensen SJ, Micheli F, White TD, Van Houtan KS, Alfaro-Shigueto J, Andrzejaczek S, Arnoldi NS, Baum JK, Block B, Britten GL, Butner C, Caballero S, Cardeñosa D, Chapple TK, Clarke S, Cortés E, Dulvy NK, Fowler S, Gallagher AJ, Gilman E, Godley BJ, Graham RT, Hammerschlag N, Harry AV, Heithaus M, Hutchinson M, Huveneers C, Lowe CG, Lucifora LO, MacKeracher T, Mangel JC, Barbosa Martins AP, McCauley DJ, McClenachan L, Mull C, Natanson LJ, Pauly D, Pazmiño DA, Pistevos JCA, Queiroz N, Roff G, Shea BD, Simpfendorfer CA, Sims DW, Ward-Paige C, Worm B, Ferretti F. Emergent research and priorities for shark and ray conservation. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2021. [DOI: 10.3354/esr01169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
|
8
|
Abstract
Marine protected areas (MPAs) can contribute to protecting biodiversity and managing ocean activities, including fishing. There is, however, limited evidence of ecological responses to blue water MPAs. We conducted the first comprehensive evaluation of impacts on fisheries production and ecological responses to pelagic MPAs of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. A Bayesian time series-based counterfactual modelling approach using fishery-dependent data was used to compare the temporal response in the MPAs to three reference regions for standardized catch rates, lengths, trophic level of the catch and species diversity. Catch rates of bigeye tuna, the main target species (Kingman/Palmyra MPA, causal effect probability >99% of an 84% reduction; 95% credible interval: -143%, -25%), and blue shark (Johnston MPAs, causal effect probability >95%) were significantly lower and longnose lancetfish significantly higher (Johnston MPAs, causal effect probability >95%) than predicted had the MPAs not been established, possibly from closing areas near shallow features, which aggregate pelagic predators, and from ‘fishing-the-line’. There were no apparent causal impacts of the MPAs on species diversity, lengths and trophic level of the catch, perhaps because the MPAs were young, were too small, did not contain critical habitat for specific life-history stages, had been lightly exploited or experienced fishing-the-line. We also assessed model-standardized catch rates for species of conservation concern and mean trophic level of the catch within and outside of MPAs. Displaced effort produced multi-species conflicts: MPAs protect bycatch hotspots and hotspots of bycatch-to-target catch ratios for some at-risk species, but coldspots for others. Mean trophic level of the catch was significantly higher around MPAs, likely due to the aggregating effect of the shallow features and there having been light fishing pressure within MPAs. These findings demonstrate how exploring a wide range of ecological responses supports evidence-based evaluations of blue water MPAs.
Collapse
|