"Evaluating fish community responses across the California MPA network using collaborative fisheries research"
Talk Summary: "The California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program (CCFRP) is a community-based organization including academic scientists, recreational anglers, and resource managers that was created in 2007 with the dual goals of monitoring and evaluating the performance of California's network of marine protected areas (MPAs) and providing biological data to support fisheries management. This talk will describe changes in fish biomass in response to marine protection, including assessing how the strength of MPA responses is affected by factors such as fishing pressure, marine heatwaves, and the size, age, and geographic location of MPAs along the coast. CCFRP uses tag-recapture data to quantify fish movements, with clear evidence that spillover (the propensity for fish to cross MPA boundaries) and fishing-the-line behavior interact to establish distinct fish density gradients extending from the borders of reserves. Surveys of volunteer anglers further demonstrate that participation in MPA monitoring improves perceptions of recreational fishermen to marine protection.
Dr. Scott Hamilton is a professor at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories. His research group conducts studies to evaluate the effects of marine protection in multiple nearshore ecosystems. Other themes of research include: (1) the effects of climate stressors (ocean acidification, hypoxia, warming temperatures) on behavior, physiology, and reproduction in fishes, (2) ecological interactions and nutrient cycling in kelp forests, (3) life history and demographic variation in fishes, and (4) aquaculture of seaweeds, shellfish, and fish, including a focus on developing novel techniques for kelp restoration and integrated multitrophic aquaculture systems to mitigate climate impacts."
Coffee and snacks provided!