Ocean Observing Systems:

Linking Policy, Science and

Management

Ocean Science, Technology and Operations

Workforce Workshop

Monterey, California

November 10, 2008

Paul Siri

Ocean Science Applications

State Coastal Conservancy

paulsiri@calosap.org

• Development of Ocean Observing

Systems

• State and Regional Marine Management

Issues

• Approaches to Ecosystem Management

• Using emerging technology to address

regional issues

2007 Priorities:

• Research and monitoring

• Water quality

• Marine Life Management Act

and Marine Life Protection Act

• Governance

California Ocean Protection Council

Linking those who benefit from information collected by observing

systems to those who run the systems.

The main goals are to ensure that existing and new observing

systems:

• Address the State’s management priorities

• Are sustained over time

• Meet the needs of a broad suite

of users, from scientists to resource managers to the general public.

California Ocean Science

Applications Program

OSA’s Primary Role

• Identify or establish statewide priorities for new and existing ocean information

• Identify observing system needs and markets within state agencies

• Communicate needs to the observing system developers

• Facilitate the flow of communication and encourage use of new decision making tools by state and federal managers

California Current

Ecosystem Based Management

Initiative• Interdisciplinary group of social and natural scientists,

working at numerous academic, government and non-governmental organizations, along with some key management and policy experts

• Assess the state of the science needed for large-scale EBM, develop research agendas for addressing the primary knowledge gaps, and test a framework for using scientific understanding about trade-offs among key ecosystem services

Web: http://imsucsc.edu/CCEBM

Coastal Ocean Currents Monitoring ProgramCA Ocean Currents Monitoring Program

• Integrated monitoring of currents in the coastal ocean.

• Covers the entire California coast

• Measures and maps surface currents, in real time, out to about 180 kilometers.

• 12 institutions and 29 co-PIs

‘Spray’ Underwater Glider

GPS navigation

Iridium communication

CTD Optical Backscatter

Chlorophyll-a Fluorometer

Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler

Developed under Office of Naval Research

~ 500 m

~3 km

Speed ~ 25 km/day

~ 0.5 knot

Range ~ 3000 km

Duration ~ 4 months

2 meters long

100 pounds

500-m cycle takes ~ 3 hr

Ecosystem Assessment and

Management ApplicationsAppropriate Scales of Observation

• Hypoxia

• Productivity

• MPAs

• Anadromous Recovery

• Water Resources

• Climate Change

Sustainable Energy Development

• Port Infrastructure Emissions

• Snow pack and acidification impacts

• Salmon life history/ vulnerability

• Ocean energy offsets

Moorings, tripodcable nodes

AUVs

Gliders

Satellites

Models

Ocean Observatories Initiative

In Situ Ichthyoplankton Imaging system

(ISIIS)

ISIIS – example (invertebrate) images

from field testing

Chaetognath

Scylarid Lobster

Larva

Ctenophore

ISIIS – example (fish larvae) images

from field testing

SynodontidMyctophid

Triglid

Bothid

Conclusions

• Resource management requires an EBM approach

• Salmon recovery requires an understanding of ecosystem function

• EBM is endorsed and being implemented

• Ocean observing provides the technical support EBM requires

• Fisheries management needs to move towards ecological forecasting

• Energy and climate change are driving policy

• Workforce issues will respond to energy, climate, port, water and sanitation infrastructure requirements.