Research in Support of Research in Support of Stewardship:Stewardship:

The view from the trenchesThe view from the trenches

Rebecca Lent & Ryan WulffRebecca Lent & Ryan Wulff

NOAA Fisheries International NOAA Fisheries International AffairsAffairs

PresentationPresentation

Overview - Stock status, NOAA role, Overview - Stock status, NOAA role, punchlinepunchline

Research/analytical needsResearch/analytical needs What , how and whoWhat , how and who

Top predator particularitiesTop predator particularities Case studiesCase studies Get engaged!Get engaged!

State of Oceanic Top State of Oceanic Top PredatorsPredators

Some stocks undergoing overfishingSome stocks undergoing overfishing

Some overfishedSome overfished

Some overfished stocks have Some overfished stocks have rebuilding plansrebuilding plans

Key concerns: Atlantic bluefin tuna Key concerns: Atlantic bluefin tuna and billfish, sharks, Southern bluefin and billfish, sharks, Southern bluefin tunatuna

NOAA Fisheries ServiceNOAA Fisheries Service DomesticDomestic

Atlantic HMS – Secretarial managementAtlantic HMS – Secretarial management Pacific HMS – Regional Fishery Pacific HMS – Regional Fishery

Management Councils (3)Management Councils (3)

InternationalInternational Many bilateral arrangementsMany bilateral arrangements US member of 3/5 tuna RFMOs, other US member of 3/5 tuna RFMOs, other

RFMOsRFMOs Scientific engagementScientific engagement

The PunchlineThe Punchline

We know enoughWe know enough

Problem is lack of “political will”Problem is lack of “political will”

Clarity of science is criticalClarity of science is critical

The WhatThe What

Fundamental vs. applied researchFundamental vs. applied research Basic biology, life history, Basic biology, life history,

oceanographic/climate informationoceanographic/climate information

Stock and fleet assessmentsStock and fleet assessments

Multidisciplinary and multinationalMultidisciplinary and multinational

Ecosystem-wide impacts of fisheryEcosystem-wide impacts of fishery

Cooperative researchCooperative research

The HowThe How Clear informationClear information

Policy makers are not scientistsPolicy makers are not scientists

Give alternative options to reach goalsGive alternative options to reach goals Alternate methodsAlternate methods Alternate timelinesAlternate timelines Alternative allocationsAlternative allocations

Analyze impacts of alternativesAnalyze impacts of alternatives Environmental impactsEnvironmental impacts NPV at various discount ratesNPV at various discount rates

0

1

2

0 1 2

B/Bmsy

F/F

msy

Overfishing/Overfished

Possibly Rebuilding/Overfished

Overfishing/Not Yet Overfished

Not Overfishing/Not Overfished

ICCAT Objective

The WhoThe Who

Not just the fishery managersNot just the fishery managers

Increased awareness by the general Increased awareness by the general public public

More meaningful debate with More meaningful debate with informed constituentsinformed constituents

Politicians at higher levels Politicians at higher levels

Top Predator Top Predator ParticularitiesParticularities

Role of environmental conditions - Role of environmental conditions - connect to stock assessmentsconnect to stock assessments

Trade and other economic driversTrade and other economic drivers Developed/developing world, Developed/developing world,

recreational/commercial/subsistence recreational/commercial/subsistence fisheriesfisheries

Catch and release survival rates Catch and release survival rates IOOS as a frameworkIOOS as a framework

Case Study: Case Study: ICCAT and Bluefin ICCAT and Bluefin

TunaTuna Two stocks, science followed in west, Two stocks, science followed in west,

not in eastnot in east Poor compliance in east even with high Poor compliance in east even with high

quotasquotas Mixing implies impacts on westMixing implies impacts on west Science: “imminent collapse in the east”Science: “imminent collapse in the east” Despite clarity, quotas set 2x Despite clarity, quotas set 2x

recommended levelrecommended level Continued outrage – clarity helped!Continued outrage – clarity helped!

Case Study: Case Study: North Atlantic SwordfishNorth Atlantic Swordfish

U.S. proposed multilateral rebuilding U.S. proposed multilateral rebuilding plan to ICCATplan to ICCAT

NPV analysis favored a 10-year vs. 15-NPV analysis favored a 10-year vs. 15-year rebuilding planyear rebuilding plan

Stock rebuilt in less than 10 yearsStock rebuilt in less than 10 years

One of few success stories from One of few success stories from RFMOs – why can’t this be done for RFMOs – why can’t this be done for BFT?BFT?

Capacity:Capacity:The ultimate The ultimate

interdisciplinary challengeinterdisciplinary challenge

Too many vessels in HMSToo many vessels in HMS

FAO Plans of ActionFAO Plans of Action

Moving from words to actionMoving from words to action

Measures of capacity: not perfect, just Measures of capacity: not perfect, just usefuluseful

Multidisciplinary approach is criticalMultidisciplinary approach is critical

Engaging in the Policy Engaging in the Policy ProcessProcess

Opportunities for participation at the Opportunities for participation at the domestic and international levels:domestic and international levels: In the science In the science In the managementIn the management In the public processIn the public process In your communityIn your community

Assess what work needs to be done, and Assess what work needs to be done, and see your work being used to a good see your work being used to a good purpose!purpose!

Thank youThank you

Questions?Questions?