Statewide | Ecosystem Perspectives
Science needs supporting habitat conservation: Raising the bar to address anthropogenic impacts Presenter: Sean Mcdermott , sean.mcdermott@noaa.gov, NOAA Fisheries
Seanbob Kelly , seanbob.kelly@noaa.gov, NOAA Fisheries Doug Limpinsel , doug.limpinsel@noaa.gov, NOAA Fisheries
Healthy habitats are the foundation of sustainable commercial, recreational, and subsistence fisheries. NOAA Fisheries Habitat Conservation Division (HCD) is responsible for the protection, conservation and restoration of marine and aquatic essential fish habitat (EFH) that support those important fisheries. These responsibilities are mandated in the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act. We consult with federal and state action agencies on projects that may adversely affect marine and aquatic habitat, including designated EFH. Our consultation process relies on current science to support effective conservation recommendations that mitigate those impacts. In the consultation process, HCD has raised the bar to better address long term cumulative impacts from greenhouse gas emissions, large scale oil spills, mining projects, coastal development, and fish passage requirements in freshwater EFH. The growing influence of climate change in conjunction with increasing development pressure is confounding once recognized and understood anthropogenic impacts. This combination of effects necessitates a new science to better understand ecosystem processes that support EFH and scientifically defensible conservation recommendations. HCD works with the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, state and federal agencies, universities, Alaska Native entities, as well as project proponents, to improve the scientific basis for ecosystem functions to enhance our ability to conserve, protect, and restore EFH in support of sustainable fisheries.
Alaska Marine Science Symposium 2023 176
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