Ocean Observing Systems:
Linking Policy, Science and
Management
Ocean Science, Technology and Operations
Workforce Workshop
Monterey, California
November 10, 2008
Paul Siri
Ocean Science Applications
State Coastal Conservancy
[email protected]
• Development of Ocean Observing
Systems
• State and Regional Marine Management
Issues
• Approaches to Ecosystem Management
• Using emerging technology to address
regional issues
California Ocean Protection Council
2007 Priorities:
• Research and monitoring
• Water quality
• Marine Life Management Act
and Marine Life Protection Act
• Governance
California Ocean Science
Applications Program
Linking those who benefit from information collected by observing
systems to those who run the systems.
The main goals are to ensure that existing and new observing
systems:
• Address the State’s management priorities
• Are sustained over time
• Meet the needs of a broad suite
of users, from scientists to resource
managers to the general public.
OSA’s Primary Role
• Identify or establish statewide priorities for new and
existing ocean information
• Identify observing system needs and markets within
state agencies
• Communicate needs to the observing system
developers
• Facilitate the flow of communication and encourage
use of new decision making tools by state and federal
managers
California Current
Ecosystem Based Management
Initiative
• Interdisciplinary group of social and natural scientists,
working at numerous academic, government and nongovernmental organizations, along with some key
management and policy experts
• Assess the state of the science needed for large-scale
EBM, develop research agendas for addressing the
primary knowledge gaps, and test a framework for using
scientific understanding about trade-offs among key
ecosystem services
Web: http://imsucsc.edu/CCEBM
Coastal Ocean Currents Monitoring Program
CA Ocean Currents
Monitoring Program
• Integrated monitoring
of currents in the coastal
ocean.
• Covers the entire
California coast
• Measures and maps
surface currents, in real
time, out to about 180
kilometers.
• 12 institutions and 29
co-PIs
‘Spray’ Underwater Glider
Speed ~ 25 km/day
~ 0.5 knot
Range ~ 3000 km
Duration ~ 4 months
2 meters long
100 pounds
500-m cycle takes ~ 3 hr
~3 km
GPS navigation
Iridium communication
~ 500 m
CTD
Optical Backscatter
Chlorophyll-a Fluorometer
Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler
Developed under Office of Naval Research
Ecosystem Assessment and
Management Applications
Appropriate Scales of Observation
•
•
•
•
•
•
Hypoxia
Productivity
MPAs
Anadromous Recovery
Water Resources
Climate Change
Sustainable Energy Development
•
•
•
•
Port Infrastructure Emissions
Snow pack and acidification impacts
Salmon life history/ vulnerability
Ocean energy offsets
Ocean Observatories Initiative
Moorings, tripod
cable nodes
Satellites
AUVs
Gliders
Models
In Situ Ichthyoplankton Imaging system
(ISIIS)
ISIIS – example (invertebrate) images
from field testing
Chaetognath
Scylarid Lobster
Larva
Ctenophore
ISIIS – example (fish larvae) images
from field testing
Bothid
Triglid
Myctophid
Synodontid
Conclusions
• Resource management requires an EBM approach
• Salmon recovery requires an understanding of
ecosystem function
• EBM is endorsed and being implemented
• Ocean observing provides the technical support EBM
requires
• Fisheries management needs to move towards
ecological forecasting
• Energy and climate change are driving policy
• Workforce issues will respond to energy, climate, port,
water and sanitation infrastructure requirements.