An Assessment of Fisheries Management Strategies in Alaska Relative to the Goals of Ecosystem Approaches to Management Anne B. Hollowed, Kerim Aydin, Jennifer Boldt, Angie Greig, Patricia Livingston, and Chang Ik Zhang

2 Outline 1.Overview of EBM objectives in US fisheries off Alaska 2.Examples of current EBM management measures 3.Reporting and tracking EBM a. Status reports and indicators b. Modeling efforts to predict future impacts c. Tracking progress using an integrated framework tool 4.Evaluation of effectiveness of EBM mgt off Alaska 5.Future research and management direction

3 North Pacific Fishery Management Council Ecosystem Approach to Management Prevent Overfishing Promote Sustainable Fisheries and Communities Preserve Food Web Manage Incidental Catch and Reduce Bycatch and Waste Avoid Impacts to Seabirds and Marine Mammals: Reduce and Avoid Impacts to Habitat Promote Equitable and Efficient Use of Fishery Resources Increase Alaska Native Consultation Improve Data Quality, Monitoring and Enforcement

4 Multi-species, Multi-fishery, Multi-Sector, Multi-Objective Management Steller sea lion Provisions Prohibited Species Bycatch Caps Community Development Quotas Seabird bycatch provisions Ecosystem Considerations

5 Current Groundfish Stock Status Relative to MSY and B(MSY) Multispecies management Individual TAC’s should not be exceeded Basis is to use “lowest common denominator” species Fishery “openings” allowed based on anticipated bycatch rates Fishery “closures” occur based on real-time observer catch estimates and fish-ticket data. OY caps – 2 Million t BSAI ABCTACCatchOFL Control Rule

6

7 Bering Sea Research Area 2008 Bering Sea Habitat Conservation Area Aleutian Islands Habitat Conservation Area 2007

8 Prohibited species Management Prohibited species caps:P. halibut, BSAI crab, P. salmon (especially Chinook and Chum), P. herring Gear/Area closures –Bristol Bay Red King Crab Conservation Area Chinook salmon: –Hard cap + incentive programs Chum salmon: TBD this summer Pacific herring. Photo: JJ Vollenweider, NOAA Fisheries

9 Non-target Management Vulnerability assessment –Susceptibility: bycatch rate. –Productivity: vital rates Divide groups into complexes with similar life history characteristics: sculpin, shark, skates, octopus, squid Species identification of catch Accelerated life history studies

10 Forage Fish Catch deterrents –Maximum Retention Allowance 2% of landed catch No directed fishery Reduce Discard Full retention provisions on catcher vessels targeting cod and pollock Groundfish Retention Standards Bycatch avoidance research

11 Alaska Fisheries Science Center & North Pacific Fishery Management Council’s version of Integrated Ecosystem Assessments Annual Stock assessment Fishery Evaluations Catch reporting: non-targets, prohibited species, seabirds, other non-specified, forage fish Essential Fish Habitat – 5 year assessment and review Reports from protected resources Peer review by Center of Independent Experts and Marine Stewardship Council

12 “Proto” = shows recent level and trend in relation to historical variation (“green zone” is +/- 1 S.D.) Direction and color not indicative of “good” or “bad”. Five-year running mean Five-year linear trend Ecosystem Considerations Chapter Fisheries and The Environment (FATE) /Resource Ecology and Ecosystem Modeling (REEM)

13 BS Diversity index BS Species richness BS size spectrum slope BS HAPC survey CPUE AI HAPC survey CPUE GOA Diversity index GOA species richness GOA HAPC survey CPUE All regions – indices of diversity

14 Total catch Bottom trawl effort Longline effort Pot effort Trophic level of catch FIB index Discards Discard rate HAPC nontarget catch Bering Sea Fishing effects on ecosystem

15 Forecasting Models Multispecies Bycatch Model MSVPA/MSFOR End – To – End Models Multispecies Management Strategy Evaluations ECOSIM

16 Zhang, C. I., S. Kim, D. Gunderson, R. Marasco, J. B. Lee, H. W. Park, and J. H. Lee. An Ecosystem-based Fisheries Assessment Approach for Korean Fisheries. Fisheries Research Application of Integrated Fisheries Risk Assessment Method for Ecosystems (IFRAME) to EBS trawl fisheries Integrated Risk Scores Performance tracking Evaluation of alternative management strategies Preliminary results and discussion Integrated Fisheries Risk Assessment Method or Ecosystems IFRAME

17 Since 1997, numerous fishery management actions for groundfish have been implemented. Amendment of Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSFCMA) American Fisheries Act, and A suite of Steller sea lion protection measures These changes warrant evaluation of their impacts on the EBS trawl fisheries and fisheries impacts on the EBS ecosystem. Changes in management for the EBS trawl fisheries

18 Management objectives and attributes (New) SSustainabilitySustainability HHabitatHabitat BBiodiversityBiodiversity E Socio- Economics  Macro- economics  Micro- economics  Social considerations  Biomass  Fishing intensity  Size/age at first capture  Habitat size  Community structure  Habitat damage  Discarded wastes  Habitat protection  Incidental catch  Discards  Trophic level  Diversity  Integrity of functional group

19 *Number of asterisks denotes relative weights Indicators developed so far Sustainability Biomass*** Catch*** Age at first capture** Biodiversity Discard rate** Mean trophic level** Diversity index*** Habitat Critical habitat damage rate** Prohibited area from fishing*** Socio-economy Catch per vessel** Price per pound* Average wage***

20 Ecosystem Fishery A Species 1 Objective S … ORI Objective B … ORI Objective H … ORI Objective E … ORI Species 2 Objective S … ORI Objective B … ORI Objective H … ORI Objective E … ORI Fishery B Species 1 Objective S … ORI Objective B … ORI Objective H … ORI Objective E … ORI Species 2 Objective S … ORI Objective B … ORI Objective H … ORI Objective E … ORI SRI FRI ERI Nested risk indices of IFRAME I i : Score of indicator i W i : Weighting factor of indicator i n : Number of indicators : Weighting value for objectives : Sustainability risk index : Biodiversity risk index : Habitat risk index : Socio-economic risk index C i : Catch of fishery B i : Biomass or biomass index of species i

21 Walleye pollock : B MSY 1.84 mmt 2.06 mmt 0.5B MSY 0.94 mmt 2.03 mmt Biomass 3.67 mmt1.95 mmt Risk score00.22 Assessing indicators using reference points ObjectivesAttributeIndicator Reference points Weight Target (0)Between (0-2)Limit (2) SustainabilityBiomassBiomass (B)B≥B MSY B MSY ＞ B≥ 0.5B MSY B ＜ 0.5B MSY *** Example _ Sustainability_Biomass (Tier 1)

Preliminary risk assessment diagram for the EBS trawl fishery FRI 97 =0.665, FRI 07 =0.291

23 Evaluation of NPFMC harvest strategy relative to principles of EAM Management policy aligns well with principles of EAM. Complex system of management results in multi- sector management. Precautionary harvest policies appear to be sustainable. Predictive tools are needed to account for the interactions to assess how proposed changes ripple through the system.

24  IFRAME synthesizes indicators into a risk assessment framework for use in evaluating the efficacy of management practices.  Identifies key gaps in knowledge.  Risk scores currently scaled to common scoring system but ecosystem impacts may not be equal.  Ecosystem status could be influenced by factors other than management strategy.  Weights currently subjective and may differ between user groups.  Preliminary results indicate there was an improvement in the ecosystem resulting from new management practices. IFRAME as an Element of Integrated Ecosystem Assessments

25  Integrated Ecosystem Assessments feasible because of comprehensive monitoring and assessment program within AFSC.  Further research needed on key relationships:  Catch quotas and trawl distribution and intensity.  Catch quotas and incidental catch rate.  Improved understanding of life history of non-target species.  Forecasting: IFRAME +Technical Interactions Future Issues and Modeling

26 Results of risk assessment for walleye pollock Objectives ORI Significance Sustainability NS Biodiversity NS Habitat NS Socio- Economics NS SRI NS A total of 7 species (Pacific cod, POP, yellowfin sole, rock sole, flathead sole, and arrowtooth flounder) were assessed. NS : denotes non-significant

27 Preserving nodal species within a complex network –300+ species Measuring direct and indirect effects of fishing and climate within a food web –100+ groups including multiple fisheries Tracking status and shifts in production between major functional groups. –14 major groups The Ecosystem Assessment: Tracking and modeling the effects of fishing and climate on ecosystem structure and function on multiple scales

28 Acres Disturbed: Km 2 disturbed expanded from observer data