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Kona Integrated Ecosystem Assessment (IEA). Evan Howell Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center 2570 Dole Street, Honolulu HI 96822. Why do an Integrated Ecosystem Assessment (IEA)?.
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Kona Integrated Ecosystem Assessment (IEA) Evan Howell Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center 2570 Dole Street, Honolulu HI 96822
Why do an Integrated Ecosystem Assessment (IEA)? • Purpose of IEA: To perform a formal synthesis and quantitative analysis of information on relevant natural and socio–economic factors, specifically in relation to identified ecosystem management goals for a region What does that mean? Based on management questions of interest, uncover, collect, process, and model ecosystem information (data) to provide answers and advice to managers Example: What is effect of fishing down species X on on surrounding ecosystem? What is effect of limiting fishing? Doing nothing?
The Kona region IEA • Why Kona? • Kona region natural choice based on dynamic ecology and history of research done in this area. • Kona region contains a diverse group of unique species that have been the subject of many long-term studies. • Kona region has many potential management issues now and in the future. Aquaculture, Recreational fishery, Recreational diving • Rough boundaries: Māhukona Harbor (N) to Kaunā Point (S)
NOAA IEA Objectives • Provide evaluation of management strategies and advice • Comprehensive integration of diverse ecosystem information • Incorporate economic and social science data • Evaluate the benefits and risks to social and ecological sector posed by management actions • Synthesize best-available science for effective ecosystem-based management
Kona IEA Program Initial Objectives • Initial project to implement a pilot IEA in the Kona region • Indentify management issues of concern (internal and external/partners) • Establish data management and ecosystem-modeling infrastructure • Focus on a subset of drivers, pressures, and management strategies that influence key ecosystem management targets • Outline steps to finalize the Kona IEA with additional FY11 funding
Kona IEA initial steps IEA 5 step process • Scoping: What are our key (ecosystem) management issues? • Identify: What are the main drivers of the system? • Partner: Who will we partner with to achieve goals? Monitoring of ecosystem indicators and management effectiveness
Scoping: What are our key (ecosystem) management issues? • Identify economic/anthropogenic impacts • Coastal dev., aquaculture, ocean energy, etc • Positive impacts from tourism (capacity to sustain?) • Impacts of fishing (extractive) • Commercial/non-commercial/subsistence (Trad vs Mod) • Effects of climate change on Kona region • Shared user areas (MPAs, Rec dive/Aq. Fish coll.) • Introduced species/species diversity/endemic
External management issues • Areas of larval retention (circulation model) • Aqua(Cage)culture Nutrient effect? Exotics becoming introduced? • Aquarium industry (model area of closure) • Billfish (catch data) DAR 20 yr. CPUE decline. Model closed area for Blue Marlin • Mapping out traditional knowledge • Private FADs • False Killer Whales
Kona IEA timeline of event • Establish the foundation for Kona IEA development • Scoping: Identify management goals, drivers • Create data management infrastructure • Review and develop ecosystem indicators • Create/refine Ecosystem model(s) • Deliverables • Identify and accumulate relevant Kona data sets (portal) (Y1) • Construct/refine ecosystem indicators (point, TS) (Y1/2) • Constructpreliminary Kona Ecopath(sim) model (Y1?/2) • Negotiation of data-sharing and collaboration (Y1?/2) • 2-3 page “brochure” detailing work to date and future IEA plan (external) (Y1) • Action plan for work towards IEA (internal) (Y1)
Example Final products – August? Brochure (print) Data Portal (web)
What’s been done to date • Internal PIFSC working group established • Contacted some partners to identify management issues of importance • Contract now out for data portal construction • Contract pending for Kona Ecosim model (initial model constructed, modify for near-shore, off-shore models) • Kona IEA brochure almost finished • Initial website up at http://www.hawaiieod.com/kona_iea (this will move internal soon)
What’s needed • Data, data data (time series, GIS-based) • Circulation model (contract, graduate student) • Partners, ideas for people to meet with in Kona (first trip May 17-18, 2010) • Pictures! For Data portal, brochure • This is a new program, ideas and comments are welcome!
NOAA Fisheries Kona IEA contact: • Evan Howell, Ph.D. • NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center • Ecosystems and Oceanography Division • 2570 Dole Street, Honolulu HI 96822 • (808) 983-5306 (V) – (808) 982-2902 (FAX) • Evan.Howell@noaa.gov