OceansMarine Fisheries management

OceansConsidered the last frontierWide variety of plant and animal life

Oceans71 % of Earth’s

surface covered by oceans

97 % of the Earth’s water

Physical and biological components help formulate management techniques to utilize marine resources

Physical Characteristics

Four Major Areas• Zonation• Salinity• Temperature

Density• Water

Movements

Zonation

Ocean zones defined by water depth and distance from shore

Divided vertically into 3 zones

Zonation Photic zone (sunlit, 660 feet down) Aphotic zone (vast & dark) Benthic zone (ocean floor)

SalinityConcentration

of salt with in ocean

Salt is carried from land by wind and water

Salt content & temperature effects water density

Density increases as salinity rises and temperature falls

Heavier water sinks – colder & saltier

Lighter water remains near surface – warmer & less salty

Temperature DenistyMoves & transports heat from equator

to polesTemperature changes occur in

different latitudes of ocean and different depths

Water Movements3 types of water

movementWavesTidesCurrents

Water MovementsWaves can be wind generated, internal,

catastrophic, stationaryWind generated – most common, consists

of sea, swell and surfInternal – underwater in depths of oceanCatastrophic – caused by storms,

earthquakes (tidal wave or tsunami)Stationary – found in bays or calmer water

(surface moves up and down)

Water MovementTides are

specialized waves from gravitational attraction of sun and moon

Occur at same time

High and low tide roughly 6 hours apart

Water MovementCurrents flowing of the ocean driven

by heating and cooling, gravity, wind and differences in water density

BiologicalMarine animal life

can be divided into 4 major groupsMicroscopic

Marine AnimalsMarine FishMarine ShellfishMarine

Mammals

Microscopic Marine AnimalsMost common

plankton, particularly zooplankton

Plankton staple for many species from tiny fish to whales

Zooplankton related to crabs and shrimp

Marine Fish4 major marine

fish economicallySalmonTunaMenhadenFlounder

Marine FishLess economically

important fish speciesHaddockHerringCodMackerel

Marine Shellfish4 major shellfish

ShrimpOysterCrabsLobster

Marine MammalsMarine

mammals differ form other marine lifeWarm bloodedLungs for breathing

Marine Mammals4 main marine

mammalsWhalesPorpoisesWalrusesFur seals

Ocean SummaryVast resourcePotentially

untapped food source

Harvest from this source must be economically and ecologically sound