37 research outputs found
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Uncertainty and Precautionary Management of Marine Fisheries: Can the Old Methods Fit the New Mandates?
Continued stock declines in marine fisheries have resulted in a search for more risk-averse management approaches. In response, the Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996 mandates habitat protection, bs catch reduction, and stock rebuilding. These changes emphasize precaution, and imply a shift in focus from maximizing yields to minimizing ecological impacts and maintaining long-term biological and economic sustainability: Unfortunately: there is little consensus on how a precautionary approach should be applied in managing overcapitalized marine fisheries, especially considering the substantial uncertainty in our understanding of ecosystem structure and function, and the effects of fishing. Speakers in a half-day symposium at the 1999 AFS Annual Meeting discussed a spectrum of: topics relating to analytic and decision-making uncertainty, precautionary management approaches, the social and political context in which decisions must be reached and the role of management decisions in creating incentives. New approaches within the current decision-making context show some promise for reducing uncertainty and becoming more risk-averse. However, past lessons force us to conclude that the old methods will not satisfy the new mandates for risk-averse management approaches that are robust to both uncertainty regarding the effects of fishing on the ecosystem, and uncertainty regarding the effects of regulations on those being regulated. This paper is a synthesis of the diverse views of nine symposium participants. Speakers and the titles of their payers are shown in the acknowledgments.Keywords: sustainable fisheries, precautionary management, fishery managementKeywords: sustainable fisheries, precautionary management, fishery managemen
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Characterization of DECam focal plane detectors
DECam is a 520 Mpix, 3 square-deg FOV imager being built for the Blanco 4m Telescope at CTIO. This facility instrument will be used for the 'Dark Energy Survey' of the southern galactic cap. DECam has chosen 250 ?m thick CCDs, developed at LBNL, with good QE in the near IR for the focal plane. In this work we present the characterization of these detectors done by the DES team, and compare it to the DECam technical requirements. The results demonstrate that the detectors satisfy the needs for instrument
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Vertical Zoning in Marine Protected Areas: Ecological Considerations for Balancing Pelagic Fishing with Conservation of Benthic Communities
Marine protected areas (MPAs), ideally, manage human uses that threaten ecosystems, or components of ecosystems. During several recent MPA designation processes, concerns have arisen over the scientific justification for no-take MPAs, particularly those that restrict recreational fishing for pelagic species. An important question is: under what conditions might recreational pelagic fishing be compatible with the conservation goals of an MPA that is primarily focused on benthic Communities? In 2005, an expert workshop of fisheries biologists, marine ecologists, MPA managers, and recreational fishermen was convened by NOAAs National MPA Center to evaluate the limited empirical data on benthic-pelagic coupling and to help provide practical advice on this topic. The participants (i) proposed a preliminary conceptual framework for addressing vertical zoning, (ii) developed preliminary guidelines to consider when evaluating whether to allow or restrict pelagic fishing in an MPA, and (iii) identified future research priorities for understanding benthic-pelagic Coupling. A Suite of ecological conditions where recreational pelagic fishing may not be compatible with benthic conservation were identified: (1) high relief habitats, (2) depths shallower than 50-100 m (depending upon the specific location), (3) major topographic and oceanographic features, and (4) spawning areas. Similarly, pelagic fishing is not likely to affect benthic communities adversely in many circumstances. Until further scientific study can shed more light on the issue of how benthic-pelagic linkages affect specific conservation targets, the proposed framework in this manuscript provides practical, easily-applied guidance for using vertical zoning to manage fishing in multiple use MPAs that focus on benthic conservation.Areas Marinas Protegidas (AMP) idealmente, administran el uso humano que amenaza los ecosistemas o sus componentes. Durante el actual proceso de declaracion de AMP, han surgido algunas preocupaciones acerca de la justificacion cientifica para establecer areas de no pesca, particularmente aquellas que restringen la pesca recreativa de especies pelagicas. Una pregunta importante es QQQ ?bajo que condiciones la pesca pelagica recreativa es compatible con los objetivos de conservacion de un AMP que se enfoca principalmente en comunidades bentonicas? En 2005, un taller de expertos en biologia pesquera, ecologfa marina, manejo de AMP y Pescadores recreativos fue convocado por el Centra Nacional de AMP de la NOAA para evaluar los pocos datos empiricos del acoplamiento entre los sistemas pelagico y bentonico, y ofrecer asesoria practica sobre el tema. Los participantes (i) propusieron un marco conceptual preliminar para abordar el tema de la zonacion vertical, (ii) desarrollar directrices preliminares para que cuando se haga una evaluation si se permite o restringe la pesca pelagica dentro de la AMP, y (iii) identificar futuras lineas de investigation para comprender mejor el acoplamiento entre el bentos y el sistema pelagico. Se identifico una serie de condiciones ecologicas en las que la pesca recreativa pelagica puede no ser compatible con la conservacion del bentos: (1) habitat de alto relieve, (2) profundidades menores a 50 m-100 m (dependiendo de la zona), (3) caracteristicas oceanograficas y topograficas sobresalientes, y (4) areas de desove. De igual forma, bajo varias circunstancias, la pesca pelagica puede no afectar las comunidades bentonicas. Hasta que los estudios cientificos brinden mas information acerca de como las relaciones entre el bentos y el ambiente pelagico afectan los objetivos especificos de la conservacion, el contexto propuesto en este trabajo provee una guia practica y de facil aplicacion para utilizar la zonacion vertical en el manejo pesquero en varios aspectos de las AMP que se enfocan en la conservacion del bentos.Keywords: Trophic level, Marine protected areas, Pelagic fisheries, Conservatio