GEF International Waters Conference Salvador, Brazil 20-27 June 2005.

1. APPLICATION OF LME
INDICATORS:
SCOTIAN SHELF LME
and
THE U.S. NORTHEAST SHELF LME
2005-2010
GEF International Waters Conference
Salvador, Brazil
20-27 June 2005

2. 10 U.S. LMEs

3. THE SCOTIAN SHELF LME

4. From: Frank, Petrie, Choi, and Leggett. 2005. Trophic
cascades in a formerly cod-dominated ecosystem.
Science 308:1621.

5. CHANGING CONDITIONS
From: Choi, Frank, Leggett, and Drinkwater, 2004. Transition to an alternate state in a
continental shelf ecosystem. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 61:505-510

6. NORTHEAST SHELF LME

7. PRODUCTIVITY INDICATORS
An undulating oceanographic recorder (above), towed
behind a ship, is used to collect ecological parameters
needed to assess the state of the marine ecosystem (left).

8. Northeast Shelf Meteorology

9. Climate Drivers of the
Northeast Shelf Ecosystem
• Warm Gulf Stream waters
• Cold Scotian Shelf incursions
• Winter North American cold air
• Warm Gulf of Mexico air
• Position of westerly North American jet
air stream
from O. Hertzman, 1996

10. General
Circulation of
the Northeast
Shelf
Ecosystem

16. FISH AND FISHERIES
INDICATORS
• Demersal species surveys
• Pelagic species surveys
• Ichthyoplankton surveys
• Invertebrate surveys (clams, scallops,
shrimp, lobster, squid)
• Essential fish habitat
• Marine protected areas

17. COMMON TERMS
from Our Living Oceans Report
• Recent average yield (RAY)
• Current potential yield (CPY)
• Long term potential yield (LTPY)
• Stock level relative to LTPY
• Status of resource utilization
• Threatened or endangered
• Potential biological removal (PBR /
MMPA)

18. 500
400
300
200
100
0
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
HERRING
Spawning Stock Biomass
Commercial Landings
1966 1970 1980 1990 1998
1500
1000
500
0
Year
Spawning Biomass (metric tons, 000s)
Landings (metric tons, 000s)
2500
2000
1500
1000
MACKEREL
Spawning Stock Biomass
Commercial Landings
1962 1970 1980 1990 1998
Year
500
400
300
200
100
0
500
0
Spawning Biomass (metric tons, 000s)
Landings (metric tons, 000s)
Figure 6-8. Top - Atlantic herring commercial landings and spawning stock biomass, 1967
through 1996 (thousand metric tons). Bottom - Atlantic mackerel landings and spawning stock
biomass, 1963 through 1996 (thousand metric tons).

19. Georges Bank Yellowtail
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000
Year
Spawning Stock Biomass ('000 mt) &
Recruitment (millions, age 1)
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Exploitation Rate
0.0
Spawning Stock Biomass
Recruitment
Exploitation Rate

20. Georges Bank Haddock
0.40
0.35
0.30
0.25
0.20
0.15
0.10
0.05
1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000
Year
Spawning Stock Biomass ('000 mt) &
Recruitment (millions, age 1)
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Exploitation Rate
0.00
Spawning Stock Biomass
Recruitment
Exploitation Rate

21. Georges Bank Cod
1980 1985 1990 1995 2000
6
5
4
3
2
1
Age2
Age3
Age4
Age5
Weight at age, kg
Year

22. Georges Bank Haddock
1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000
3
2
1
Age2
Age3
Age4
Age5
Weight at age, kg
Year

23. Georges Bank Yellowtail
0.9 Age2
1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
Age3
Age4
Age5
Weight at age, kg
Year