Present Ecosystem Modeling Work
at the 2002 MOTE Symposium

Current Status of Accomplishment or Milestone: Completed – Presentation given on 6 November 2002.

Background: The developing paradigm of ecosystem-based management (EBM) is becoming an important component of fisheries management. The 2002 Mote Symposium was held in November 2002 to provide a forum in which researchers could discuss and develop ecosystem research.

Purpose of Activity/Goal of Project: Inform other researchers about ongoing ecosystem research at the Pacific Fisheries Environmental Laboratory (PFEL) and obtain advice for improving our work from peers.

Description of Accomplishment and Significant Results: Oral presentation titled “Tradeoffs and Tuna Fisheries in the Eastern Tropical Pacific” was given at the 2002 MOTE Symposium.

Significance of Accomplishment (e.g., to the Center, to Management, and to NMFS Strategic plan Goals): EBM involves tradeoffs in allocating fishing effort among fleets, and we have developed a quantitative and graphical method of describing these tradeoffs and determining whether various objectives for EBM promote (or inhibit) policy flexibility. Our methods can be used to provide decision makers with advice about the allocation tradeoffs implicit in various EBM objectives.

Problems: None.

Key Contact: George Watters, (831-648-0623, gwatters@pfeg.noaa.gov).