The need for research on ocean acidification and fisheries Seafood industry perspectives

1
The need for research on ocean acidification and
fisheriesSeafood industry perspectives

• Testimony of Brad Warren
• Sustainable Fisheries Partnership
• June 5, 2008

2
Thank you!

• Its an honor to be here, heartening to see this
  problem drawing real attention.
• I think the scientists who are here today deserve
  medals for bringing this light.
• Early warning reveals a key we are the first
  generation in history that has a chance against
  such a huge problem.

3
Personal background interest

• 25 years as journalist and consultant working in
  fisheries oceans
• Was editor of Pacific Fishing Magazine for eight
  years
• Built the Productive Oceans Partnership, a
  program of SFP, because acidification looks to be
  an overriding challenge to the future of oceans
  and fisheries.
• I believe the seafood industry will play a key
  role defending the ocean that feeds us from
  effects of excessive CO2 concentrations.

4
Disclaimers

• We advise but do not represent industry.
• Most listen, some agree, some dont.
• Many now view acidification as a major concern.
• One seafood exec on acidification
• This is indisputable. Weve got to deal
  with this.

5
Our view on emissions and research policy

• We support emissions-reduction policies in the
  U.S. and globally
• Support national investment in research to
  understand ocean acidification impacts so that
  fisheries can be managed as the ocean changes,
  not just shut down.
• Acidification is a more clear-cut problem for
  fisheries than warming.

6
Initial impacts of acidificationfor industry

• A new source of uncertainty
• - in fishery productivity
• - in financial planning.

7
Potential acidification impacts on seafood
industry

• Risk of reduced productivity of fish stocks.
• - Diminished plankton productivity gt fewer
  fish
• Risk of panic button management
• The ocean is changing, you cant explain how,
  so shut down fisheries now.

8
Seafood Canary in the Coalmine?

• The North Pacific is the most likely place for
  this to show up first and if it does show up its
  going to be very,very significant impact on
  fisheries of the North Pacific. It could
  potentially eliminate a lot of them.
• Joe Childers, salmon troller, president of
  United Fishermen of Alaska
• Similar concerns arising in other regions too.

9
Shellfish farmers

• Hypoxia (attributed to GHG emissions) the
  current situation puts both the marine eco-system
  and shellfish growers in extreme jeopardy
• Acidification This acidity dissolves calcium
  carbonate, the stuff that shells are made of. If
  ditoms, corals and shellfish succumb to this, it
  might collapse not only the shellfish industry,
  but also the entire marine food chain.
• Brett Bishop, Little Skookum Shellfish,
  representing Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers
  Assoc.. From May 27, 2008 testimony to Senate
  Commerce, Science Transportation Committee,
  referring to effects of climate change/dead
  zone/acidification.

10
Fishery impacts of acidification important, but
poorly understood

• Research is urgently needed.
• Delay will leave industry exposed to sudden
  shocks.
• Without expanded data and ecosystem modeling,
• fisheries could become much harder to manage.
• Worst case decline or outright collapse.
• Best case manage change by understanding effects
  on fisheries and underlying ecosystems.

11
Will plankton impacts of GHGs curtail fisheries?
Source Marine Ecology Progress Series, Vol 332
9-16, Dec. 20, 2007
12
Greenland turbot Could future fish stock
response look like this?

Lightly fished 2007 harvest rate 1.8 of
biomass
Source stock assessment, BSAI Greenland turbot,
NMFS 2007.
13
Industry perspectives on FOARAM

• Leaders support the concept the need for
  research is clear and urgent.
• BUT Concern about potential for robbing Peter
  to pay Paul.
• Regular fish-stock surveys are critical to manage
  fisheries.
• Cutting surveys might also jeopardize early
  detection of impacts from acidification.
• Even under budget constraints, both are needed.