Surface-canopy forming kelps provide the foundation for ecosystems that are ecologically, cultura... more Surface-canopy forming kelps provide the foundation for ecosystems that are ecologically, culturally, and economically important. However, these kelp forests are naturally dynamic systems that are also threatened by a range of global and local pressures. As a result, there is a need for tools that enable managers to reliably track changes in their distribution, abundance, and health in a timely manner. Remote sensing data availability has increased dramatically in recent years and this data represents a valuable tool for monitoring surface-canopy forming kelps. However, the choice of remote sensing data and analytic approach must be properly matched to management objectives and tailored to the physical and biological characteristics of the region of interest. This review identifies remote sensing datasets and analyses best suited to address different management needs and environmental settings using case studies from the west coast of North America. We highlight the importance of in...
Background/Question/Methods Off California’s coast, a coalition of conservationists and fishermen... more Background/Question/Methods Off California’s coast, a coalition of conservationists and fishermen are combining science and local knowledge to test new approaches for avoiding bycatch of overfished rockfish. Groundfish on the U.S. West Coast is a multi-species fishery that has been dominated by bottom trawling for decades. The fishery was declared a disaster in 2000 due to depletion of vulnerable stocks of a handful of species, increasing regulations, and declining revenues and landings. Fishery closures were established to rebuild stocks and some fishermen have switched to more selective gear; however, catch of target species is still constrained by the need to avoid overfished stocks. Currently, there are a handful of overfished stocks with rebuilding plans, but for some of those species, recovery is expected to take decades. As the fishery transitioned to an Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) “catch shares” management system in 2011, we tested whether collective arrangements for comb...
This assessment outlines an enhanced planning approach for West Coast estuaries that incorporates... more This assessment outlines an enhanced planning approach for West Coast estuaries that incorporates an evaluation of the regional context for estuarine conservation and recommends an approach to site-scale planning with more focus on ecological processes ...
The planning process for California's Marine Life Protection Act in north central California... more The planning process for California's Marine Life Protection Act in north central California represents a case study in the design of a regional component of a statewide network of marine protected areas (MPAs) for improved ecosystem protection. We describe enabling factors, such as a ...
Surface-canopy forming kelps provide the foundation for ecosystems that are ecologically, cultura... more Surface-canopy forming kelps provide the foundation for ecosystems that are ecologically, culturally, and economically important. However, these kelp forests are naturally dynamic systems that are also threatened by a range of global and local pressures. As a result, there is a need for tools that enable managers to reliably track changes in their distribution, abundance, and health in a timely manner. Remote sensing data availability has increased dramatically in recent years and this data represents a valuable tool for monitoring surface-canopy forming kelps. However, the choice of remote sensing data and analytic approach must be properly matched to management objectives and tailored to the physical and biological characteristics of the region of interest. This review identifies remote sensing datasets and analyses best suited to address different management needs and environmental settings using case studies from the west coast of North America. We highlight the importance of in...
Background/Question/Methods Off California’s coast, a coalition of conservationists and fishermen... more Background/Question/Methods Off California’s coast, a coalition of conservationists and fishermen are combining science and local knowledge to test new approaches for avoiding bycatch of overfished rockfish. Groundfish on the U.S. West Coast is a multi-species fishery that has been dominated by bottom trawling for decades. The fishery was declared a disaster in 2000 due to depletion of vulnerable stocks of a handful of species, increasing regulations, and declining revenues and landings. Fishery closures were established to rebuild stocks and some fishermen have switched to more selective gear; however, catch of target species is still constrained by the need to avoid overfished stocks. Currently, there are a handful of overfished stocks with rebuilding plans, but for some of those species, recovery is expected to take decades. As the fishery transitioned to an Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) “catch shares” management system in 2011, we tested whether collective arrangements for comb...
This assessment outlines an enhanced planning approach for West Coast estuaries that incorporates... more This assessment outlines an enhanced planning approach for West Coast estuaries that incorporates an evaluation of the regional context for estuarine conservation and recommends an approach to site-scale planning with more focus on ecological processes ...
The planning process for California's Marine Life Protection Act in north central California... more The planning process for California's Marine Life Protection Act in north central California represents a case study in the design of a regional component of a statewide network of marine protected areas (MPAs) for improved ecosystem protection. We describe enabling factors, such as a ...
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