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2009/MRCWG/022 Agenda Item: 4

Progress Report – Marine Ecosystem Assessment and Management in the Asia-Pacific Region (Part 2)

– The APEC LME Project

Purpose: Information Submitted by: United States

22nd Marine Resource Conservation Working Group Meeting

Vancouver, Canada1-3 June 2009

Marine Ecosystem Marine Ecosystem Assessment and Assessment and

Management in the Management in the AsiaAsia--Pacific Region: Pacific Region:

Part 2Part 2

FY09 Project Proposal to Marine Resource FY09 Project Proposal to Marine Resource Conservation WGConservation WG

Approved: October 2008Approved: October 2008

Susan Ware Harris, NOAASusan Ware Harris, NOAAAPEC MRC WG Meeting, 2009, VancouverAPEC MRC WG Meeting, 2009, Vancouver

APEC LME projectAPEC LME projectFollows phase one (2007Follows phase one (2007--2008):2008):

To assess and manage APEC Large Marine To assess and manage APEC Large Marine Ecosystems and their goods and services.Ecosystems and their goods and services.

• Focus on economic benefits of a sustainable marine resource base

• Ensure sustained production for LME goods and services

• Provide legal and administrative support for ecosystem-based management practices.

AA two Part Project: Part 1two Part Project: Part 1……

•• The focus of The focus of Part 1Part 1 was to designate the Large was to designate the Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs)Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) of the APEC region.of the APEC region.

•• Project Part 1Project Part 1 developed:developed:–– sciencescience--based criteria to be used in identifying LMEs based criteria to be used in identifying LMEs –– Suites of indicators to monitor and assess change in Suites of indicators to monitor and assess change in

LMEsLMEs–– a map of APEC LMEsa map of APEC LMEs

•• The final report for Project Part 1 was released in The final report for Project Part 1 was released in September 2008September 2008

ECOLOGICAL CRITERIA USED TO ECOLOGICAL CRITERIA USED TO DETERMINE AREAL EXTENT OF DETERMINE AREAL EXTENT OF Large Marine Ecosystems Large Marine Ecosystems (LMES):(LMES):

•• BathymetryBathymetry

•• HydrographyHydrography

•• ProductivityProductivity

•• TrophodynamicsTrophodynamics

LMEs ARE GLOBAL CENTERS LMEs ARE GLOBAL CENTERS OF EFFORTS TO:OF EFFORTS TO:

•• REDUCEREDUCE coastal pollutioncoastal pollution

•• RESTORERESTORE damaged habitatsdamaged habitats(Coral reefs, mangroves, sea grasses)(Coral reefs, mangroves, sea grasses)

•• RECOVERRECOVER depleted fishery stocksdepleted fishery stocks

INDICATORS OF CHANGING INDICATORS OF CHANGING ECOSYSTEM STATES:ECOSYSTEM STATES:

ProductivityProductivityFish and FisheriesFish and Fisheries

Pollution and Ecosystem HealthPollution and Ecosystem HealthSocioeconomicsSocioeconomics

GovernanceGovernance

5 MODULES WITH INDICATORS

ECOSYSTEM ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT: MANAGEMENT: A PARADIGM SHIFTA PARADIGM SHIFT

FROM FROM TOTO

Individual speciesIndividual species EcosystemsEcosystems

Small spatial scaleSmall spatial scale Multiple scalesMultiple scales

ShortShort--term perspectiveterm perspective LongLong--term perspectiveterm perspective

Humans: independent of Humans: independent of ecosystemsecosystems

Humans: integral part of Humans: integral part of ecosystemsecosystems

Management divorced from Management divorced from researchresearch

Adaptive managementAdaptive management

Managing commoditiesManaging commodities Sustaining production potential Sustaining production potential for goods and servicesfor goods and services

NOTE: Some of the substantive changes between traditional resource management and ecosystem management (From Jane Lubchenco, 1994).

APEC Large Marine EcosystemsAPEC Large Marine Ecosystems

•• 27 Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs)27 Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs)•• East Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska, California Current, Gulf East Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska, California Current, Gulf

of California, Insular Pacificof California, Insular Pacific--Hawaiian, Pacific Central Hawaiian, Pacific Central American, Humboldt Current, Bay of Bengal, Gulf of American, Humboldt Current, Bay of Bengal, Gulf of Thailand, South China Sea, Sulu Celebes Sea, Indonesian Thailand, South China Sea, Sulu Celebes Sea, Indonesian Sea, North Australia, Northeast Australia, EastSea, North Australia, Northeast Australia, East--Central Central Australia, Southeast Australia, Southwest Australia, Australia, Southeast Australia, Southwest Australia, WestWest--Central Australia, Northwest Australia, New Central Australia, Northwest Australia, New Zealand Shelf, East China Sea, Yellow Sea, Kuroshio Zealand Shelf, East China Sea, Yellow Sea, Kuroshio Current, Sea of Japan/East Sea, Oyashio Current, Sea of Current, Sea of Japan/East Sea, Oyashio Current, Sea of Okhotsk, and West Bering Sea LMEs.Okhotsk, and West Bering Sea LMEs.

A twoA two--Part Project: Part 2Part Project: Part 2•• Part 2 will build upon the findings of Part 1 Part 2 will build upon the findings of Part 1

of the project and will include:of the project and will include:–– ecosystem indicatorsecosystem indicators–– a baseline ecosystem assessment to use with a baseline ecosystem assessment to use with

the sciencethe science--based criteria for monitoring and based criteria for monitoring and managing the LMEs of the APEC regionmanaging the LMEs of the APEC region

–– an inventory of approaches and projects to an inventory of approaches and projects to identify best practicesidentify best practices

–– opportunities for two demonstration opportunities for two demonstration projects/pilot studiesprojects/pilot studies

LME / GEF PROJECTSLME / GEF PROJECTS

•• LME 5LME 5--module assessment and module assessment and management strategymanagement strategy

•• Integrate landIntegrate land--based sources of pollution based sources of pollution project activities with LME strategyproject activities with LME strategy

•• 7 LME projects in the APEC Region7 LME projects in the APEC Region•• 5 UN agencies5 UN agencies•• GEF funding supports the recovery and GEF funding supports the recovery and

sustainability of stressed LMEssustainability of stressed LMEs

Relevance to international Relevance to international agreements and targets:agreements and targets:

•• 2007 APEC Leaders Declaration on Climate Change, Energy Security2007 APEC Leaders Declaration on Climate Change, Energy Securityand Clean Development, advocatingand Clean Development, advocating……–– ““further measures in the protection of marine biological further measures in the protection of marine biological

resources, policy analysis capabilities and a coresources, policy analysis capabilities and a co--benefit benefit approach.approach.””

•• Bali Plan of ActionBali Plan of Action–– ““Develop an agreed set of factors to be applied in defining Develop an agreed set of factors to be applied in defining

marine ecosystems in the Asiamarine ecosystems in the Asia--Pacific region, and establish a Pacific region, and establish a key set of variables to monitor and assess changes in these key set of variables to monitor and assess changes in these ecosystems.ecosystems.””

•• Seoul Oceans Declaration, Hawaii Oceans Declaration, Action PlanSeoul Oceans Declaration, Hawaii Oceans Declaration, Action Planon Sustainability of the Marine Environment, Manila Declarationon Sustainability of the Marine Environment, Manila Declaration

•• 2002 WSSD Plan of Implementation called for the introduction by 2002 WSSD Plan of Implementation called for the introduction by 2010 of an ecosystems approach to marine resource assessment 2010 of an ecosystems approach to marine resource assessment and management.and management.

A Proven ApproachA Proven Approach……

•• The Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) approach was The Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) approach was developed by NOAA and many partners over the developed by NOAA and many partners over the last 25 years, has international acceptance, and is last 25 years, has international acceptance, and is strongly supported by the Global Environment strongly supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).Facility (GEF).

•• There are 16 GEFThere are 16 GEF--funded LME projects in Asia, funded LME projects in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe involving 110 countries.involving 110 countries.

•• The approach has been successfully applied in the The approach has been successfully applied in the Arctic Region (Arctic CouncilArctic Region (Arctic Council’’s Protection of the s Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME).Arctic Marine Environment (PAME).

GEF funded LME Projects in the GEF funded LME Projects in the APEC Region:APEC Region:

•• Yellow Sea LME (2 APEC countries)Yellow Sea LME (2 APEC countries)•• Bay of Bengal LME (8 APEC countries)Bay of Bengal LME (8 APEC countries)•• Humboldt Current LME (2 APEC countries)Humboldt Current LME (2 APEC countries)•• South China Sea LME (7 APEC countries)South China Sea LME (7 APEC countries)•• Gulf of Thailand LME (4 APEC countries)Gulf of Thailand LME (4 APEC countries)•• Indonesian Sea LME (2 APEC countries)Indonesian Sea LME (2 APEC countries)•• Sulu Celebes LME (3 APEC countries)Sulu Celebes LME (3 APEC countries)

PartnersPartnersAPEC Member APEC Member

EconomiesEconomies

APEC working APEC working groups:groups:

--FisheriesFisheries--Industrial Science Industrial Science

and Technologyand Technology--TourismTourism--TransportationTransportation

APEC Sustainable APEC Sustainable Development initiative Development initiative

Five UN agencies (UNEP, Five UN agencies (UNEP, UNIDO, IOCUNIDO, IOC--UNESCO, UNESCO, UNDP, FAO)UNDP, FAO)

The World Conservation The World Conservation Union (IUCN)Union (IUCN)

Project Activities for Part 2Project Activities for Part 2I.I. Desktop AssessmentDesktop Assessment•• Conduct an information inventory to provide existing Conduct an information inventory to provide existing

baseline for 27 LMEs of the APEC regionbaseline for 27 LMEs of the APEC region•• Conduct inventory of approaches and projects in order to Conduct inventory of approaches and projects in order to

identify best practicesidentify best practices•• Identify sound management strategiesIdentify sound management strategies•• Need contributions from APEC countries.Need contributions from APEC countries.

II. Workshop (Korea, September 2009)II. Workshop (Korea, September 2009)•• Plan how the APEC economies and regional organizations Plan how the APEC economies and regional organizations

will utilize the products to ensure the continued will utilize the products to ensure the continued productivity and sustainability of LME goods and services. productivity and sustainability of LME goods and services.

•• Identify two pilot projects in the APEC regionIdentify two pilot projects in the APEC region

Timeline TargetsTimeline Targets

•• Desktop AssessmentDesktop Assessment 2009 2009 -- 20102010

•• Workshop Preparation Workshop Preparation mid 2009mid 2009

•• Hold WorkshopHold Workshop September 2009September 2009

•• Final ReportFinal Report 20102010

Baseline ecological conditionsBaseline ecological conditions……

•• 64 LME briefs64 LME briefs•• 55--module summaries for module summaries for

each LME (productivity, each LME (productivity, fish and fisheries, fish and fisheries, pollution and ecosystem pollution and ecosystem health, socioeconomics, health, socioeconomics, and governance)and governance)

•• available on the web at:available on the web at:www.lme.noaa.gov/www.lme.noaa.gov/

Productivity Module:Productivity Module: measures the carrying measures the carrying capacity of an LME for supporting fish resources; and serves as capacity of an LME for supporting fish resources; and serves as a a useful indicator of the growing problem of coastal eutrophicatiouseful indicator of the growing problem of coastal eutrophication.n.

Productivity Indicators of Productivity Indicators of changing ecosystem stateschanging ecosystem states

•• Primary productivity and chlorophyll Primary productivity and chlorophyll trends (1998trends (1998--2006) 2006)

•• LME fronts (temperature gradients)LME fronts (temperature gradients)•• Sea Surface Temperatures (SST) Sea Surface Temperatures (SST)

profiles and anomalies (1957profiles and anomalies (1957--2006 2006 and 1982and 1982--2006) at the LME scale. 2006) at the LME scale.

Surface thermal fronts, Yellow Sea and Surface thermal fronts, Yellow Sea and Gulf of California LMEsGulf of California LMEs

East China Sea LME: East China Sea LME: East China Sea LME annual East China Sea LME annual

mean SST (left) and SST anomalies (right), 1957mean SST (left) and SST anomalies (right), 1957--2006.2006.

CoolingCooling--toto--WarmingWarming ShiftShift: Pacific : Pacific OceanOcean

W. BERING SHELF GULF OF ALASKA

EAST CHINA SEA CALIF. CURRENT

Fish and Fisheries IndicatorsFish and Fisheries Indicators

For each LMEFor each LME……•• Mean annual total catch (1950Mean annual total catch (1950--2004)2004)

•• Total value of catch (1950Total value of catch (1950--2004)2004)

•• Primary Production Required (PPR) Primary Production Required (PPR) to sustain fisheries (to sustain fisheries (‘‘footprintfootprint’’))

(UNEP LME Report, Daniel Pauly, Villy Christensen, (UNEP LME Report, Daniel Pauly, Villy Christensen, Sea Around Us)Sea Around Us)

Humboldt Current LME fisheries Humboldt Current LME fisheries (total reported landings)(total reported landings)

Humboldt Current LME fisheriesHumboldt Current LME fisheries(by value)(by value)

Pollution and Ecosystem Pollution and Ecosystem HealthHealth IndicatorsIndicators

The US Environmental Protection Agency uses The US Environmental Protection Agency uses seven pollution and ecosystem health Indicators:seven pollution and ecosystem health Indicators:

•• * water quality* water quality•• * dissolved oxygen* dissolved oxygen•• * coastal habitat* coastal habitat•• * eutrophic condition* eutrophic condition•• * sediment quality* sediment quality•• * benthic index* benthic index•• * fish tissue contaminants* fish tissue contaminants

Watershed schematic of nitrogen inputs Watershed schematic of nitrogen inputs and transport to coastal systems and transport to coastal systems (University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science)(University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science)

Pollution and Ecosystem Health Module:Pollution and Ecosystem Health Module:nutrient overnutrient over--enrichment indicatorsenrichment indicators

•• A Watershed perspective A Watershed perspective and nutrient export model and nutrient export model (IOC Report, (IOC Report, ““Filling gaps Filling gaps in LME nitrogen loadings in LME nitrogen loadings forecast for 64 LMEsforecast for 64 LMEs””(2008)(2008)

•• Source Attribution of DIN export predicted by the NEWS DIN modelSource Attribution of DIN export predicted by the NEWS DIN model. . Two examples: the Yellow Sea LME and the Humboldt Current LME.Two examples: the Yellow Sea LME and the Humboldt Current LME.

•• Units: tons N/year (IOC Report, 2008)Units: tons N/year (IOC Report, 2008)

Link scienceLink science--based indicators from Productivity, Fish and based indicators from Productivity, Fish and Fisheries, and Pollution and Ecosystem Health, to Fisheries, and Pollution and Ecosystem Health, to Socioeconomics and Governance IndicatorsSocioeconomics and Governance Indicators

•• Improved forecasts of fishery fluctuationsImproved forecasts of fishery fluctuations•• Impacts of accelerated warming on Impacts of accelerated warming on

fisheries biomass yieldsfisheries biomass yields•• Model predictions of nitrogen affecting Model predictions of nitrogen affecting

LMEs showing significant increaseLMEs showing significant increase•• An LME Commission for the Yellow Sea An LME Commission for the Yellow Sea

LME. LME.

Hoagland and Jin (2006) examined Hoagland and Jin (2006) examined economic sector activity for the Yellow Sea economic sector activity for the Yellow Sea LME. LME.

The four sectors examined included:The four sectors examined included:

(1) socioeconomic activity, (1) socioeconomic activity, (2) shipping and offshore oil, (2) shipping and offshore oil, (3) fisheries and aquaculture, and (3) fisheries and aquaculture, and (4) tourism.(4) tourism.

LMEs contribute $12.6 trillion to the LMEs contribute $12.6 trillion to the global economyglobal economy