Long term monitoring of nearshore habitats in the Gulf of Alaska:

Why and How?

James L. BodkinJames L. Bodkin

USGS, Alaska Science CenterUSGS, Alaska Science Center

Thomas A. DeanThomas A. Dean

Coastal Resources Associates, Inc.Coastal Resources Associates, Inc.

ObjectivesObjectives Demonstrate social and economic benefit to Demonstrate social and economic benefit to

monitoringmonitoring

Requires understanding changeRequires understanding change Responding in a timely wayResponding in a timely way

Describe the Nearshore component of a Describe the Nearshore component of a ecosystem-based program to monitor and ecosystem-based program to monitor and manage the Gulf of Alaskamanage the Gulf of Alaska

Recovery and restoration valueRecovery and restoration value A design to understand cause and enable A design to understand cause and enable

managementmanagement

Why Monitor?Why Monitor?

ESA direct annual recovery costs in 2003ESA direct annual recovery costs in 2003

Spotted owl

California Condor

Chinook Salmon*

Black footed ferret

Steller Sea lion

5.1 million

3.4 million

123 million

2.3 million

49.5 million

Indirect costsIndirect costs

Calif. Gnatcatcher 0.5 million in 2003Calif. Gnatcatcher 0.5 million in 2003

Plus an estimated 300 million/year in indirect costsPlus an estimated 300 million/year in indirect costs

Spotted owl Spotted owl 5.1 million in 2003 5.1 million in 2003

Plus an estimated 21-46 billion in indirect costs to Plus an estimated 21-46 billion in indirect costs to assure a 91-95% probability of population viabilityassure a 91-95% probability of population viability

Associated with habitat protection/acquisition, lost jobs, and lost revenues

Can we limit these costs?Can we limit these costs?

The example of the Brown Pelican The example of the Brown Pelican (listed in 1970, 0.6 million direct costs (listed in 1970, 0.6 million direct costs in 2003)in 2003)

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

bree

ding

pai

rs

The example The example of the sea of the sea otter in otter in CA and AKCA and AK

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

# s

ea

ott

ers

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

Decline detected

ESA listing

Rat Islands, Aleutians

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

# s

ea

ott

ers

800

1200

1600

2000

2400

Decline detected

Mgmt action

California

?

SummarySummary

Letting species decline to the point of becoming endangered Letting species decline to the point of becoming endangered has high social and economic costshas high social and economic costs

Monitoring provides an early warning system that enables Monitoring provides an early warning system that enables management by identifying human activities that are adversely management by identifying human activities that are adversely affecting natural resources prior to requiring regulatory actionaffecting natural resources prior to requiring regulatory action

Manageable human effects include invasive species, Manageable human effects include invasive species, contaminants, mortality, disturbance, and habitat modificationcontaminants, mortality, disturbance, and habitat modification

Monitoring the Gulf of Monitoring the Gulf of AlaskaAlaska

To detect changeTo detect change To understand causesTo understand causes

To predict future changeTo predict future change To informTo inform

To contribute to problem solvingTo contribute to problem solving

Why the nearshore ?Why the nearshore ?

11 of 15 non-recovered resources are included in the Nearshore plan

Nearshore Web

Linkages to other habitats

Nearshore Web

LinkagesOffshore Watersheds

4 Regions 12 Blocks

4 Intensive Blocks

NearshoreSamplingDesign

NearshoreSamplingDesign

(each region)

10 Intensive Sites6 Selected Sites

60 Extensive Sites

Shoreline SurveysBirds and mammalsSea otters

Regions

Nearshore Birds and Marine Mammals- Abundance- Diet- Productivity

Intensive Blocks

Intertidal/Subtidal Communities- Density- Productivity- Diversity

Physical Measures

Sites - Intensive

- Abundance- Sizes

Sites - Extensive

- Contaminants

Subsistence Food

Understanding Causes for Change

Spatial / Temporal Patterns of ChangeSpatial / Temporal Patterns of Change Trophic RelationsTrophic Relations Productivity/GrowthProductivity/Growth Size and Age structures Size and Age structures Research FundResearch Fund

Design features

GOA Marine Science: An EVOS Legacy

Exxon ValdezOil spill

Trustee Council