Coastal Zone Management Section 309 Grant: 1996 Kelp / Reef Habitat Assessment

Identification Information

Citation

Originator: Fox, David, Arlene Merems, Jim Golden, and Mark Amend

Publish Date: December 1, 1996

Online Link: None

BPA Project #:

Contact Information

Agency: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Name: Cedric Cooney

Job Position: Natural Resources Data and Systems Manager

Telephone: 503-947-6094

E-Mail Address: Cedric.X.Cooney@odfw.oregon.gov

Description

Abstract: Oregon is facing increasing pressures to develop the living marine resources of nearshore subtidal rocky reef areas, particularly off the south coast where community economies depend, in part, on a natural resource base. Much of the increased pressure has resulted from a shift toward nearshore reef fisheries due to the dramatic decrease in traditional salmon fisheries. Emerging or proposed marine resource uses include kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) harvest, fisheries for previously under-utilized species, propagation or enhancement of sea urchins, abalone, and other species, and increased and diversified recreational uses. Because the nearshore reefs are in state waters, Oregon is responsible for managing habitats to sustain their long-term use and productivity. Resource managers lack scientific information about the organisms and habitats on Oregon's nearshore «50 m deep) rocky reefs. We need to develop this information for making sound resource management decisions. Effective management of kelp harvest, along with other rocky reef resource uses, requires an understanding of the natural processes in the reef ecosystem. Kelp harvest may affect future kelp production, and have secondary effects on organisms that depend on the kelp forest environment for habitat or food. Detecting these secondary effects requires knowledge of the relationship among structural and functional components of the ecosystem. While traditional species-specific research projects can contribute to this knowledge, a single-species research approach is inadequate to address all potential impacts of human activities, especially the important secondary effects. Research needs to be structured to examine ecosystem relationships. We initiated a 5-year kelp/reef research project in 1995 to gather information necessary for managing kelp harvest and other nearshore reef uses. This report summarizes work completed during 1996 (year 2 of the study). The study area included Blanco Reef, Orford Reef, Redfish Rocks, and Humbug Mountain Reef, and Rogue Reef. Our 1996 research focused on examining the relationships among fish communities and their habitat, estimating kelp bed biomass, and examining seabird use of kelp beds.

Purpose:

Time Period of Content: 1990-1996

Geographic Extent: Orford, Blanco, Redfish Rocks, Humbug Mountain, and Rogue reefs

Status: Final

Use Constraints:

Format: PDF

Data Quality Information

Lineage-Source: Final Grant Report Contract No. 96-52

Data Information

No data information was supplied.

Entity and Attribute Information

Attributes Description: Field attribute information is available in the attached file(s).

Bibliography Information

Field Name	Value
Biblio ID	4897
Year	1996
Publisher
Request Type	Report
Location	Marine Region
Date Created
Date Cataloged
Date Published	1996
Type
Pages	1-61
Volume
Status	0
Descriptor	Habitat; Marine Region
Date Entered	1/1/1999
Location In Clackamas Library
Author
Duplicates
Number Remaining After Requests
Presumed All Distributed
Back Room Duplicates
Author	Amend, M.; Fox, D.; Golden, J.; Merems, A.
Risk	Habitat
Species
Disposition Of Requests	StreamNet Library: Requested, but no copies available

Is a physical copy maintained for reference at Headquarters? No